MENELUSURI LAHIRNYA MASA DEMOKRASI TERPIMPIN (MATERI SEJARAH INDONESIA KELAS 12)

Summary

On July 5, 1959, President Soekarno delivered a decree to end the dominance of political parties in Indonesia’s governance. He aimed to replace the European-style democracy with a system more in line with Indonesia's identity, proposing a 'guided democracy' in place of the liberal system. This shift followed significant political instability, including rebellions and economic decline. Soekarno’s vision was to re-establish the 1945 Constitution, which ultimately led to the dissolution of the Konstituante and the enactment of the Presidential Decree. This marked the beginning of a new political era with the establishment of 'guided democracy.'

Takeaways

• 😀 On July 5, 1959, President Soekarno issued a Presidential Decree that ended Indonesia’s experiment with liberal democracy and initiated the era of 'Demokrasi Terpimpin' (Guided Democracy).
• 😀 Soekarno had long been critical of the 1950 provisional constitution (UUDS) and the liberal democracy system, which he believed failed to bring stability to Indonesia.
• 😀 Political instability, regional rebellions (such as DI/TII and PRRI Permesta), and economic struggles led to the collapse of liberal democracy in Indonesia during the 1950s.
• 😀 Soekarno’s Presidential Concept (Konsepsi Presiden) proposed a 'Demokrasi Terpimpin,' a Cabinet of Mutual Cooperation (Kabinet Gotong Royong), and a National Council of functional groups to advise the government.
• 😀 The Konsepsi Presiden was met with both support (from PKI, PNI, and nationalists) and strong opposition (from Masyumi, NU, and other political factions).
• 😀 The Konstituante (Constituent Assembly), established after the 1955 elections, struggled to create a consensus on the nation’s ideological direction, exacerbating political gridlock.
• 😀 As regional military leaders in Sumatra and Sulawesi demanded more centralized control, the growing tension led to the eventual failure of the liberal democracy system.
• 😀 The political and security crises, combined with the failure of the Konstituante, prompted Soekarno to declare a state of emergency and issue the July 5th decree.
• 😀 The July 5, 1959, Presidential Decree dissolved the Konstituante, nullified the 1950 provisional constitution, and restored the 1945 Constitution as the framework for the country’s governance.
• 😀 The decree also led to the creation of the MPRS (People’s Consultative Assembly) and the DPAS (Supreme Advisory Council), centralizing power in the hands of Soekarno and shifting the nation to Guided Democracy.

Q & A

What was the significance of the July 5, 1959 decision by Soekarno?

On July 5, 1959, Soekarno's decision to issue a Presidential Decree marked the end of the liberal democracy system in Indonesia. He dissolved the Constituent Assembly, nullified the 1950 Provisional Constitution, and reintroduced the 1945 Constitution, signaling the beginning of the 'guided democracy' era.

What was the key idea behind Soekarno's 'guided democracy'?

Soekarno's 'guided democracy' aimed to replace the liberal democratic system, which he believed had failed to maintain national stability, with a more centralized, authoritarian model where the government could steer the country more effectively. This system focused on a strong presidential leadership with limited political competition.

How did the 1950 Provisional Constitution impact Indonesia's political stability?

The 1950 Provisional Constitution, which established a parliamentary system, led to political instability in Indonesia. Frequent changes in government, including the instability caused by the rise of military rebellions and economic difficulties, underscored its inability to maintain national unity and progress.

What were the causes of Indonesia's political instability in the 1950s?

Indonesia faced political instability in the 1950s due to several factors, including the dominance of political parties, economic difficulties, military rebellions like DI TII, regional insurgencies such as PRRI and Permesta, and constant changes in the government, all of which undermined the functioning of the parliamentary system.

What was the 'Konsepsi Presiden' and what were its key proposals?

The 'Konsepsi Presiden' (Presidential Concept), proposed by Soekarno in 1957, aimed to shift Indonesia's political system to a 'guided democracy'. It included proposals to form a 'Gotong Royong Cabinet' (a cooperation cabinet between winning political parties), establish a national council as an advisory body, and end the dominance of individual political parties.

Which political parties supported and opposed Soekarno's 'Konsepsi Presiden'?

The 'Konsepsi Presiden' was supported by parties like the PKI, PNI, and some small nationalist parties. However, it faced opposition from parties like Masyumi, NU, PSI, Partindo, and the Catholic Party, who rejected the idea of a controlled democracy and sought a more liberal democratic system.

What was the role of the 1955 elections in shaping Indonesia's political system?

The 1955 elections were a pivotal moment in Indonesia's political development. They resulted in the formation of the Constituent Assembly to draft a new constitution. However, the inability of the Assembly to agree on a national philosophy and the failure of the Provisional Constitution led to the eventual shift back to the 1945 Constitution, as proposed by Soekarno.

What was the significance of the military's role in the political crisis during the 1950s?

The military played a significant role in the political crisis of the 1950s, particularly with regional military uprisings like DI TII and the PRRI. The military's involvement in these uprisings, along with demands for a return to the 1945 Constitution, influenced Soekarno's decision to issue the Presidential Decree in 1959 and move away from the liberal democratic system.

How did the economic situation in Indonesia impact the political environment in the 1950s?

Indonesia's economic situation in the 1950s was unstable, with the initial post-Korean War economic improvement followed by a decline in revenue, particularly in the plantation sector. This economic downturn, coupled with ineffective policies like the 'Benteng Economy' and 'Ali Baba Economy', exacerbated political tensions and contributed to the overall instability.

What was the outcome of Soekarno's Presidential Decree on July 5, 1959?

The Presidential Decree of July 5, 1959, led to the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly, the invalidation of the 1950 Provisional Constitution, and the reestablishment of the 1945 Constitution. It also initiated the creation of the MPRS (People's Consultative Assembly) and DPAS (Advisory Council of Regional Representatives), effectively ending the era of liberal democracy and beginning the 'guided democracy' period.