INDONESIA When Escapism and

Reductionism Dominates

Hafiz Amirrol 25209022

Fundamental Question

Is it true that what is being referred to as the Indonesian society

is really Indonesian as it is being visioned in the Constitution?

Theoretical Question

Why Nationalism,

the one that is required in building the society is never a real truth?
Hypothetical Answer

Because there’s always resistance towards Nationalism;

(1) Idealist Resistance, and (2) Structural Resistance

What are these Resistance?

Idealist Resistance Structural Resistance

i.e. Capitalism, i.e. Transnational Penetration

Nativism and Intervention
Examples of Resistance Types (Idealists Level)

CAPITALISM
Ambition: Capital Accumulation
Solidarity Value: Maximum Profit
Mechanism: Transnational

NATIVISM
Ambition: Ethnic Longevity and Integrity
Solidarity Value: Community and Brotherhood
Mechanism: Subnational/ Ethnic - based Politics

CRITICISM TOWARDS UUD 1945

Examples of Resistance Criticisms

(1) for the Capitalists; the law is restricting capital accumulation and is
biased towards collective (nation’s) interest.

(2) for the Nativists; the law does not secure ethnics’ rights (i.e. cultural
rights) and is regarded as too secular.
Examples of Resistance Types (Structural Level)

TRANSNATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Ambition: Capital and Borderless Accumulation
Solidarity Value: Globalization
Mechanism: Free/ Open Trade
Examples: Corporate Companies
International Agencies (i.e. UN, IMF, ADB, World Bank)
Non - conventional Organizations (i.e. terrorists)

GLOBAL SCALE RESISTANCE

(MULTI-CENTRIC)
Challenges from these Resistance for Indonesia

Two-way Resistance facing the Country;

(1) Local/ Idealists Level

(2) Transnational/ Structural Level

To accommodate Government To accommodate local/

globalization pressure autonomy power
(to facilitate capital pressure (due to
accumulation) decentralization)

DECLINED CAPACITY Increasing popularity of other

DECLINED PUBLIC TRUST } ‘isms’ among the society
What is Making it Worse?

Unholistic Approaches from the Government;

Critical Issues (heavyweight) were given compromising (lightweight) solutions.

ESCAPIST REDUCTIONIST AD-HOC COMPROMISING AND NAIVE

Example:

Substantial and fundamental questions and problems were tried to be resolved

from an old political or economical theories which may not be valid anymore.
Conclusion

Escapist and Reductionist way of thinking and approaching problems are

letting substantial-fundamental issues to be unresolved…

Postscript

Hypothetically, the same conclusion applies to

the approaches and methods in seeing issues
or problems in the built environment.
Holistic Approaches in Tackling Issues
References

(1) Leksono, Ninok, Ketika Eskapisme dan Reduksionisme Mendominasi (from Negara
Minus Nurani), Penerbit Buku Kompas, Jakarta (2008)

(2) Stangroom, Jeremy, Dr., Little Book of Big Ideas: Philosophy, A&C Black Publishers
Ltd, London (2006)

(3) Prasetyo, Eko, Kaum Miskin Bersatulah, Resist Book, Jogjakarta (2009)

(4) Groat, Linda and Wang, David, Logical Argumentation (Chapter 11 from
Architectural Research Methods) John Wiley & Sons Inc., New York (2002)
 End
Hafiz Amirrol, anti-copyright, 2009