DEMOKRASI LIBERAL 1950-1959

Summary

This video script explores Indonesia's early political history post-independence, focusing on the transition from a federal state to a unitary republic. It highlights the establishment of a parliamentary democracy from 1950 to 1959, characterized by political instability and frequent cabinet changes. Key cabinets and figures, such as Natsir, Sukiman, Wilopo, and Djuanda, are discussed, showcasing their contributions and challenges. The script concludes with the collapse of democracy liberal, leading to Soekarno’s 1959 Presidential Decree, which marked the shift to Guided Democracy. The video provides an insightful look at Indonesia’s turbulent but pivotal political development in its early years as an independent nation.

Takeaways

• 😀 Indonesia declared independence on August 17, 1945, but full sovereignty was only recognized on December 27, 1949, after the Round Table Conference (KMB).
• 😀 After independence, Indonesia initially adopted a federal system, which did not align with the ideals of a unitary state, leading to demands for a change in the political structure.
• 😀 On August 17, 1950, Indonesia transitioned to a unitary state under the Provisional Constitution (UUD 50), marking the beginning of Liberal Democracy.
• 😀 The period of Liberal Democracy from 1950 to 1959 was marked by political instability, with seven cabinets formed during this time, each facing high political conflict and frequent changes.
• 😀 The parliamentary system under Liberal Democracy allowed for multiple parties to dominate the political landscape, leading to a fragmented political system with parties such as Masyumi, PNI, NU, and PKI.
• 😀 The parliamentary system was characterized by the lack of a fixed term for the cabinet, which could be dissolved at any time due to a vote of no confidence from the parliament.
• 😀 Cabinet Natsir (1950–1951), from the Masyumi party, succeeded in forming regional parliamentary bodies and getting Indonesia admitted to the United Nations, but it fell after a vote of no confidence.
• 😀 Cabinet Sukiman (1952) was a coalition between PNI and Masyumi and achieved cooperation with the US, but it was eventually destabilized by internal political conflict.
• 😀 Cabinet Wilopo (1952–1953), another PNI-Masyumi coalition, successfully organized the first election for the Constituent Assembly, but it was toppled due to labor unrest and political challenges.
• 😀 The last cabinet under Liberal Democracy, Cabinet Djuanda (1957–1959), pushed for national unity and the abolition of the federal system but collapsed just before President Sukarno issued his decree on July 5, 1959, which ended Liberal Democracy and led to the rise of Guided Democracy.

Q & A

What was the significance of Indonesia's declaration of independence on August 17, 1945?

Indonesia's declaration of independence on August 17, 1945 marked the beginning of the country's independence from Dutch colonial rule, although it was not immediately recognized as a sovereign nation. It took four years of diplomatic negotiations for Indonesia's sovereignty to be formally acknowledged.

Why did Indonesia not immediately gain full sovereignty after its declaration of independence?

Indonesia did not immediately gain full sovereignty after its declaration of independence because the Dutch initially refused to acknowledge it. Instead, they sought to negotiate a federal structure that would maintain their influence, leading to a four-year diplomatic struggle culminating in the Round Table Conference (KMB).

What were the key outcomes of the Round Table Conference (KMB) in 1949?

The Round Table Conference (KMB) in 1949 resulted in the formal recognition of Indonesia's sovereignty by the Dutch. However, one of the controversial outcomes was the agreement to create a federal system (the 'Serikat') for Indonesia, which was later challenged by many Indonesians who wanted a unitary state.

What led to the establishment of the NKRI (Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia) in 1950?

The demand for a unitary state by the Indonesian people, in opposition to the federal system established by the Dutch, led to the reformation of Indonesia's political structure. On August 17, 1950, the government formally declared Indonesia a unitary state (NKRI) under the Interim Constitution (UUD 50).

How was the parliamentary system structured in Indonesia from 1950 to 1959?

From 1950 to 1959, Indonesia adopted a parliamentary system in which the executive branch (the cabinet) was accountable to the legislature (the parliament). The government was formed through coalitions of multiple political parties, and the cabinets could be dissolved through a vote of no confidence from the parliament.

What were the characteristics of Indonesia's 'Demokrasi Liberal' (Liberal Democracy) between 1950 and 1959?

Indonesia's 'Demokrasi Liberal' between 1950 and 1959 was characterized by a multi-party system, frequent changes in government, and a lack of political stability. The system was parliamentary, meaning that the cabinet had to maintain the confidence of the parliament, and if it failed to do so, it could be dissolved.

What caused the frequent changes of cabinets in Indonesia during the period of Demokrasi Liberal?

The frequent changes in cabinets during the period of Demokrasi Liberal were largely due to political instability, ideological conflicts among political parties, and a high level of disagreement between the executive and the parliament. This led to the dismissal of cabinets through motions of no confidence.

Can you name and describe the achievements of the first cabinet of Indonesia after the transition to a unitary state?

The first cabinet was Cabinet Natsir (1950-1951), which succeeded in several key achievements, including the establishment of provincial legislatures across Indonesia and the country's acceptance as a member of the United Nations. However, it fell due to a motion of no confidence.

What were the main contributions of Cabinet Wilopo (1952-1953) during the Demokrasi Liberal period?

Cabinet Wilopo (1952-1953) achieved significant milestones such as organizing the first elections for the Constituent Assembly and implementing policies to increase national prosperity. It also promoted Indonesia's foreign policy of non-alignment. However, it faced a major setback due to political unrest and labor strikes.

Why did Indonesia's parliamentary system collapse in 1959, leading to the shift towards guided democracy?

The parliamentary system collapsed due to persistent political instability, frequent changes in government, and growing dissatisfaction among the public and military with the lack of effective governance. On July 5, 1959, President Sukarno issued a presidential decree, which marked the end of the parliamentary system and the beginning of 'Demokrasi Terpimpin' (Guided Democracy), a more centralized form of government.