Indonesia’s DNA & associated policies for Pakistan
MANY renowned experts of sociology and an thropology judge human races on the basis of traits of survival, diversity, harmony, mercy and compassion.
The basic traits of humanity differ among different communities, regions and countries. The Republic of Indonesia has exceptional model of economic growth, social harmony, ethnic diversity, political stability, governance and last but not the least, social justice which depicts its special DNA value.
Indonesia is an economic miracle which has been achieving high ratios of GDP for so many years.
It is the largest economy in Southeast Asia, which is a diverse archipelago nation of more than 300 ethnic groups.
It has charted impressive economic growth since overcoming the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s.
Economic diversification, constant implementation of numerous structural economic reforms, ideal combination of public-private partnership, nurturing of private sector, rapid growth of SMEs and seeking of more and more inflows of FDIs have been cornerstone of its major economic planning in the country.
Despite having unfavourable weather conditions and harsh socio-economic conflicting realities the policy makers did not bow before impassable of nature and succeeded to devise a comprehensive economic policy and complete transformation process which ultimately geared up its macro-economy and all its associated sectors.
Although fault lines are still persist but Vision 2045 is plugging all flaws and it is seemingly on the right path of further diversification, smarter economy, living, production, energy resources and even financial mobilization.
The policy makers gradually diminished political interference, elite priority and wish list of cartels in economic affairs and focused on equal distribution of resources among the sectors and segments of society.
They strongly snubbed spirits of personal gains over national projects and promoted culture of a balanced economic development in all provinces of the country due to which the gap between urban and rural income, comfort, luxury and facilities has been on the decline.
The policy makers of Pakistan may take guideline form Indonesia which surpassed all kinds of problems and did not compromise on economic self-reliance, commercial diplomacy and budgetary parameters.
Moreover, the special DNA of Indonesia has successfully developed an excellent model of conflict resolution which proved one of the basic and crucial X-factors of its dynamisms, development and decency.
It seems that conflict resolution is in its DNA/blood and genetically they do not have inclination towards violence, vendetta and vicious spirits.
They always prefer dialogue over destruction, diplomacy over disengagement, compromise over conflict, compassion over contradiction and consensus over conspiracy.
Unfortunately, in the past national history of Indonesia confronted with lots of controversies and contaminations but thanks to its inbuilt spirits of conflict resolution which achieved wonders of peace, harmony, stability and successfully controlled all kinds of anti-social, anti-communal, anti-political and even anti-economic tendencies in the country.
The policy makers of Pakistan should replicate Indonesian model of conflict resolution to resolve the issues of regionalism, provincialism, sectarianism and ethnic divide in the country.
Furthermore, Indonesia has holistic model of friendly good governance which vividly reflects its superior DNA and capacity to govern through community development by eradicating Italian chains of corruption, misuse of authority and personal gains.
The policy makers of Indonesia have developed a holistic model of governance which supports total transparency, accountability, checks & balances and separation of powers in the country.
Decentralization has been the key of its dynamic governance system.Financial autonomy has been granted up to lowest levels of the system which ultimately flashed out certain constrains and produced an economic feel good gesture among the most marginalized sectors, segments and societies and thus removed all red lines in the country.
The State has been acting as merchant of dreams to public which has now come true. Service, submission and sacrifice has been 3S policy of Indonesian government in terms of good governance.
The people and authorities of Pakistan should study the Indonesian pragmatic model of good governance to spread some kind of relief, comfort and last but not the least easy and smooth orientation among the people.
Like other countries in the region, Indonesia has been facing many serious issues in its national politics since its inception.
But it succeeded to cap all kinds of political regression, instability, imperfection, inflexibility and impurity through grand political transformation, accommodation, convergence and last but not the least, sensible manoeuvring.
Its journey from authoritarian to people’s democracy remained amazing because no human blood was shed and political obsession of power and concentration of more power was gradually transmitted and translated into ranks of real owners of the country, the common people through universal right of vote.
Growth of political parties, respect for opposition, protection of human rights and formation of NGOs and, above all, institutionalization of various spells of real politicization and democratization drive was turned political opponents into partners in governance.
Political jealousy was shifted to joint ventures of public service.Furthermore, complete independent status of its election commission and regulatory bodies sparked its national politics due to which incidents of politics of hatred, divide, discrimination and destruction is a political rarity in Indonesia.
Political euphoria of excel and mileage is still there in its society but it only further consolidates its journey towards liberalized economy.
The policy makers of Pakistan should seriously ponder to reproduce Indonesian political system in the country so that every organ of the state should operate within its legitimate domain.
Despite an Islamic country, Indonesia has been supporting women empowerment in the country which is now paying its socio-economic dividends.
Women are playing a vital role in its upward economic growth, poverty eradication and its national drive to shackle the clutches of social taboos and seas of ignorance.
Indonesian special DNA purposefully promotes spirits of gender equality, girl education, equal employer and women empowerment and thus initiated various policies, programs and projects to put brakes on scapegoating women on the pleas of societal differentiations, biological indifferences and so-called rituals and misperceptions of religion.
The decision makers of the country should learn from Indonesian women empowerment and chalk out a suitable and befitting proposition for our own society and shun the undue tendency of mediocrity and malpractices towards womanhood.
To conclude, the road towards greater socio-economic prosperity, personal dignity, political stability, harmony and last but not least, diversity heavily rests on proper DNA and genetic sciences to change the human inner chemistry and engineering to pursue its dreams through peaceful means not ugly provocations, through legitimate ways not illicit bargains, through honesty not horrendous crimes against humanity, through social justice not seductions and seditions.
There is no short-cut for economic transformation and political maturity to protect true national security but superior human traits and inbuilt DNA features may accelerate process of decency, development and diplomacy in our society which has become barren to realize the importance of wisdom, knowledge, diversity and conflict resolution.
Thus Indonesian superior DNA must be examined to create some pleasant values.
—The writer is Director Centre for South Asia and International Studies (CSAIS), Islamabad and regional expert, Indonesia & ASEAN.
