WEIGHING THE IMPORTANCE OF STATE GUIDELINES FOR INDONESIA

Abstract

Indonesia requires a development vision that is well-planned, sustainable, and comprehensive, rather than one that merely aligns with presidential terms and shifts every time the presidency changes. The vision of national leadership is paramount. In the context of statehood, a vision provides the essential direction needed by everyone within the nation to navigate social, national, and state life. Furthermore, a vision serves as an inspiring mental blueprint that sparks enthusiasm, drives spirit, strengthens commitment, and propels society toward a better life. National and state awareness must recognize the country's potential based on its political geography. As Napoleon argued, a state's politics lies in its geography. Similarly, Bismarck asserted that only one thing never changes in the politics of a state, namely its geography. Meanwhile, Sukarno warned that if the Indonesian people lose sensitivity toward and understanding of their immense geopolitical potential, they will remain trapped as a nation of coolies, serving among other nations. The existence of state guidelines is crucial, particularly at a time when Indonesia's current development faces the challenges of discontinuity and disconnectivity. From this perspective, weighing the importance of state guidelines to once again steer national and state life in the Republic of Indonesia becomes explicitly clear. Ultimately, Indonesia must prevent its progress from merely stagnating or "running in place." The haste and failure to apply the principle of prudence in statecraft were demonstrated by the abolition of the Broad Guidelines of State Policy (GBHN), rationalized by the argument that under a presidential system, the development agenda should rest solely on the elected President's campaign promises. However, the complexity of state governance cannot be surrendered to just one branch of state power, namely the President. It demands the involvement of all state components, including highly diverse political, regional, and societal representations. The necessity to re-accommodate state guidelines into the constitution is highly justified and urgent when cleanly reviewing Indonesia's inherent potential—namely its social, political, and economic capital derived from its strategic geopolitical location. Therefore, the constitution of a nation must fundamentally be capable of responding to these vital needs.