20 January 2013 | Hits: 10055
Komunitas Indonesia untuk Demokrasi (KID - engl. Indonesian Community for Democracy) carried out the measuring of Democracy Index in 2012. This measurement aims to gain insights whether there is progress in the implementation and the system of democracy or, on the contrary, regress. The insights gained will be invaluable in designing the future strategic program implementation for Komunitas Indonesia untuk Demokrasi (KID). Specifically, this measurement looked at the development of democracy at the district level in four regencies i.e. Batu (East Java), Lhokseumawe (Nangroe Aceh Darusalam/NAD), South Tangerang (Banten) and Jayapura (Papua) in 2012. The results were then compared with the similar measurement of Democracy Index in the same places done in 2011.
Definition of the Quality of Democracy and Democracy Index
The quality of democracy is defined as the level of functionality of the democratic institutions within a democratic system in a given society (life of democracy). This functionality facilitates citizens in achieving what they want or what they believe as the best for them. Democracy Index is the number representing the quality of democracy.
Conceptual Framework and Method of Measurement
The analysis on the quality of democracy was carried out in three stages. Firstly, the analysis on the system; based on the assumption that all actions are carried out within a particular system and all the relevant information regarding those actions pertains to the system. Secondly, the analysis on the individuals; based on the assumption that the political participation of the individuals is the key to the democratic way of life. Thirdly, the combination of the previous two analysis by using the analysis of the main components; based on the assumption that democracy will always be an interaction between individuals and the political system.
In the first and second stages, the dimensions of democracy to be highlighted in the design of the democracy index instruments are: (1) the quality of the local government; (2) the political participation of the citizens; and (3) civil liberty.
In the third stage, the analysis was carried out on the interaction between the system of democracy and the implementation of that system. The indicators used to measure the interaction between the system and its implementation by individuals are grouped into: (1) the performance of the system in achieving the goals of democracy, (2) how the mechanism and rules of political participation facilitate the citizens’ participation, and (3) the tools and infrastructure available to support civil liberties. In this measurement, the stages of measuring the quality of democracy were carried out in the same sequence as in 2011:
As in 2011, this research used two methods in parallel: quantitative and qualitative. The two methods were used simultaneously to provide a synergy, a technique commonly known as triangulation. In the analysis process, the two methods can be used in parallel on the same phenomenon. The result is two sets of data: quantitative and qualitative. The two sets of data would then be analyzed separately. The result would then be combined with the inductive and deductive techniques according to the model used.
Quantitative data were gathered from respondents in four districts where the Schools of Democracy operate:
Data gathered included those taken from respondents who are stakeholders in each area. Those stakeholders involved in this research are representatives of these categories: (1) government officials; (2) political parties; (3) NGOs; (4) business people; (5) political scientists; (6) youth organizations; and (7) religious organizations. The number of respondents representing the stakeholders in each district is as follow: 15 in Batu, 15 in South Tangerang, 13 in Lhokseumawe and 13 in Jayapura. Through an FGD, a set of qualitative data were collected on the system dynamics, life of democracy and the interaction between them.
You can read more about KID Democracy Index 2012 here
Read also KID Democracy Index 2012 in Indonesian version