Joko Widodo, known simply as Jokowi, is the seventh president of Indonesia since its democratic transition in 1998. Since taking office in 2014, Jokowi has been credited with strengthening democratic values and implementing various public reforms to ensure the country’s economic success. With Jokowi running for reelection in 2019, now is a good time to take a look at his record and how his presidency has impacted democratic reforms in Indonesia.
Early Life and Career
Jokowi was born in 1961 in Solo, Central Java. After attending Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta to study furniture design, he went on to serve as the mayor of Solo from 2005 to 2012. Under Jokowi’s leadership, Solo became one of the most livable cities in Indonesia, as well as the first Indonesian city to be recognized as a City of Peace.
Jokowi’s success in Solo led to his nomination as the governor of Jakarta in 2012. As governor, Jokowi gained national and international recognition for his anti-corruption stance and bringing progressive policies to the city. He was then successfully elected as president of Indonesia in 2014.
Goals and Achievements
When Jokowi was elected president, he set out to improve the economic and social conditions of Indonesia. To reach this end, his administration implemented a number of fiscal and economic reforms, as well as targeting key industries for investment and expansion. At the same time, Jokowi encouraged the spread of democracy and democratic reforms throughout the country. His primary goals for democratic reforms were to reduce corruption, strengthen democracy, and improve the quality of life for Indonesia’s citizens.
Jokowi was successful in leading the way for democratic reforms in Indonesia. By his presidential term in 2019, Jokowi had eliminated over 30 percent of the country’s corruption, making Indonesia among the least corrupt in the region. He also implemented fiscal policies to reduce poverty and improve healthcare and education systems. Jokowi also launched initiatives to combat climate change and has achieved nearly universal health insurance.
Economic Reforms
One of Jokowi’s first actions as president was to implement economic reforms aimed at increasing the GDP, stimulating foreign investment, and creating jobs. He improved the country’s infrastructure and transportation, opened up more investment opportunities, and improved public health.
In 2018, Jokowi promised to revive Indonesia’s “sleepy economy” with a mix of fiscal and monetary policies. To do this, Jokowi increased government spending, lifted export restrictions, and increased the country’s minimum wage by 11.5 percent in 2018. His efforts resulted in an uptick in both domestic and foreign investment and a rise in foreign exchanges reserves.
Political Reforms
In addition to the economic reforms, Jokowi also implemented reforms to combat corruption. To do this, he led a campaign to increase transparency and accountability, as well as implement tougher laws and regulations to punish those who violate the law. His administration also worked to strengthen the rule of law, protect human rights, and ensure that civil and political rights of citizens are respected and protected.
Jokowi also implemented a number of reforms aimed at promoting democracy and freedom of expression. He granted freedom of religion, relaxed restrictions on freedom of assembly and association, established professional associations and unions, and allowed independent trade unions.
Cultural Reforms
Jokowi also placed a high priority on promoting cultural reforms and diversity. To do this, he ended discrimination based on gender and ethnicity and granted minority communities greater access to education and health care. He also ensured that Indonesian cultural heritage was preserved and promoted.
In 2017, Jokowi implemented mandatory religious education in schools, stating that it would foster greater tolerance to all religions and create a better quality of education for all students. He also increased access to art and culture, and opened opportunities for young people to become more engaged in the arts and culture.
Impact and Conclusion
In the years since Jokowi took office, Indonesia has made dramatic improvements in its democratic transparency and processes. He has achieved many of the goals he laid out in his platform and has created a strong foundation for sustainable economic and social change.
Though Jokowi’s has faced criticism and opposition throughout his presidency, he remains popular with the public and popularly elected in 2019. He is the first president since Indonesia’s transition to democracy to win a second term, which demonstrates the support he has from the people of Indonesia. It is clear that Jokowi’s presidency has been a major catalyst for democratic reform in Indonesia, and he is widely seen as enhancing Indonesia’s political culture.
