The Faculty of Law, Universitas Brawijaya (FH UB) held a guest lecture with the theme “Democracy & Contemporary Indonesia” which presented Associate Professor Adam Tyson from Leeds University, England as a speaker.
This event, which was held on May 28 2024 in the Auditorium on the 6th Floor of A Building, FH UB, is part of the work program of the International Relations Office (IRO) of FH UB in organizing an International Constitutional Law seminar which focuses on democracy.
In his material, Prof. Tyson discusses several important topics regarding democracy, including the definition, how it works, and the condition of democracy in the world today. This lecture provides students with knowledge to explore democracy issues in the global context and in Indonesia.
Prof. Tyson began his lecture by discussing the basic definition of democracy. According to him, the essence of democracy lies in the active participation of citizens in the political process and transparent and accountable government.
“Democracy is a system of government in which political power is in the hands of the people, either directly or through freely elected representatives,” he explained.
In his explanation of how democracy works, Prof. Tyson emphasized the importance of strong and independent institutions.
“Democracy functions through a set of institutions such as parliament, a judicial system, and a free media. All of these must work together to ensure that the government is responsible and citizens’ rights are protected,” he added.
One of the topics that has attracted the most attention is the discussion regarding the decline of democracy globally. Prof. Tyson observes an alarming trend in various countries where democratic institutions are being weakened and civil rights are being curtailed.
“We are seeing a phenomenon known as ‘democratic backsliding’ in many countries, where democratically elected governments are slowly eroding civil liberties and the rule of law. This is a big challenge for all democratic countries, including Indonesia, to remain vigilant and maintain democratic values,” he said. (RMA/FH PR/ OKY/ UB PR/ Trans. Iir)
