Article by Fadhilah Fitri Primandari. Australian Journal of Human Rights.
April 19, 2021.
The COVID-19 pandemic sparks questions about its impacts on political freedom. While recent observations have pointed to measures taken by governments to stall democratic progress and maintain political stability, another important question to ask is how the public responds to these measures. Looking into the case of Indonesia, this article discusses support and advocacy for democracy and human rights during the COVID-19 pandemic and their prospects in strengthening the country’s democracy. I argue that although public support for democracy persists, it has been difficult to sustain over long periods of time. Health infrastructure and economic recovery have become the front and centre issues for both the general public and the government. The country's political environment, known for being unfavourable towards democratic progress, has also played an important part in discouraging efforts to demand democratic rights. Active steps are thus imperative to prevent Indonesia's democracy from further staggering as it pushes its way through the pandemic.
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