After 81 years of independence, our institutions must come of age

Eighty-one years have passed since Indonesia gained independence, and now we must examine the strength of the institutions tasked with maintaining national unity. On August 17th of each year, red and white flags adorn our streets as we ponder the nation's progress since 1945. While official measures such as the construction of toll roads, foreign direct investment, and expanded military capabilities are impressive, they do not fully capture the crucial question: how robust are our state institutions?

Samuel P. Huntington's 1968 book, Political Order in Changing Societies, posits that the real difference between nations lies not in their government type, but in their ability to govern effectively. A nation's political order becomes fragile when economic and social modernization outpaces the development of its political institutions.

Indonesia has indeed undergone significant transformation since 1945. We have developed a modern state machinery comprised of a professional civil service, a bicameral legislature, an independent judiciary, local administrations, oversight commissions, and security apparatuses. On paper, our state-building project has been a resounding success.

However, merely building the administrative structure of a state is not enough. The true challenge lies in establishing strong institutions with sufficient autonomy to curb power, including the authority of those who govern. This systemic deficiency is evident in the persistent corruption scandals that plague various branches of the state.

From bribery schemes in the judiciary to procurement kickbacks in executive agencies and regional governments, no institution appears immune. Even independent electoral bodies have fallen victim to corruption.

These recurring waves of corruption demonstrate that our state institutions lack the necessary autonomy to effectively constrain power. While Indonesia has successfully created the apparatus of authority, the pressing challenge now is ensuring that these institutions possess the independence needed to prevent abuse of power. As we celebrate our independence anniversary, it is imperative to address this fundamental issue and strengthen our state institutions to better hold our nation together.