Future of Democracy and Law Enforcement: UNU Jogja Initiates Student Awareness as Citizens

Yogyakarta, Indonesia - UNU Jogja reaffirmed its commitment to shaping a young generation that is critical and cares about national issues. This commitment was realized through a public lecture titled ‘The Future of Our Democracy and Law Enforcement’, held on Thursday, June 19 at the 5th-Floor Hall of the UNU Jogja campus.

The event featured Achmad Munjid, Secretary of the Center for Pancasila Studies and a member of the Center for Security and Peace Studies (PSKP) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), as the main speaker. The reflective and thought-provoking discussion was moderated by Sutiyono, a lecturer at UNU Jogja’s Faculty of Education.

In his opening remarks, Sutiyono emphasized that this public lecture is part of an effort to build a cross-disciplinary academic dialogue space. Its aim is not merely to broaden horizons, but also to critically and openly evaluate the direction of democratic and legal reform in Indonesia. 

“It is hoped that forums like this can foster collaborative networks between students, lecturers, and legal and political practitioners. From there, stronger civic engagement and social oversight of democratic practice and law enforcement will grow,” he said.

Achmad Munjid opened his presentation with a fundamental question: “Why do we need law?” The question became a starting point for dissecting the crisis of justice, the weakening of public ethics, and the challenges of post-reform democracy. He emphasized that democracy is not only a system of government, but also a reflection of ethical responsibility in maintaining public sanity.

He then reviewed the six main agendas of the 1998 reform, including the abolition of the military’s dual function (ABRI) and the establishment of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). Even so, he regretted the emergence of democratic decline, such as the decreasing independence of law enforcement, the return of collusion and nepotism, and the shrinking space for freedom of expression. 

Not only addressing structural issues, Munjid also highlighted the psychosocial challenges of the younger generation in the digital era. He criticized the role of social media algorithms that increasingly reduce critical capacity and create addictive patterns. He cited the policy of restricting the TikTok app in China as a form of systemic intervention against the negative impacts of digital technology.

“We are not stupid because of our brains, but because we are poor at managing our time,” he stressed. He encouraged students to strengthen self-awareness, time discipline, and self-management amid the flood of instant information.

In his view, weaknesses in self-management often stem from egoism and indifference to the common good. Therefore, he challenged students to grow into collaborative and solution-oriented individuals—not only intellectually bright, but also emotionally and socially mature. 

Furthermore, Munjid presented striking data: only 4.64 percent of Indonesia’s 278 million people held a bachelor’s degree as of 2023. “This means we are a very fortunate group. Do not grow to be a burden; be fruit that benefits society,” he said, inviting students to reflect on their strategic role as the educated.

Concluding his presentation, Munjid quoted Lant Pritchett in The Rebirth of Education (2013): “True education is a process of forming adults who think critically and can contribute meaningfully.” He stressed that students are not merely degree seekers, but guardians of common sense and the nation’s future.

Through public lectures like this, UNU Jogja positions itself not only as an educational institution, but also as a space for cultivating critical consciousness and future leadership. [Latifah]