Trust in Government: The Indonesian Experience

Abstract

Recent social and political changes in Indonesia have had profound impacts on Indonesian society and culture. Among others these changes include: democratization, decentralization or regional autonomy, transparency, and openness of information against the backdrop of globalization. To adapt to the situation, the Indonesian government reorganized its bureaucracy, an exercise that involved changes in structure and systems that would result in modern and efficient bureaucracy. Democratic processes brought two important results: (a) freedom of the press and (b) freedom of expression. These two freedoms provide the opportunity for the increased “transparency” and “accountability” of government practices and decision making, while also opening room for “participatory government”. Therefore, these changes became an important source for building trust in government. However, sometimes mass media reporting has gone too far, publishing distorted and incorrect information, with negative results. Freedom of expression in terms of “street demonstration”, sometimes have become violent and destructive not only to the peoples' lives but also to the economy. Another result of the “Reformation Era” has been the decentralization process which was started in 2001. With the implementation of decentralization or regional autonomy vide Law No. 22 of 1999, at the beginning of 2001 and subsequently in 2003, the decentralization process changed the political as well as economic life of local society.