Top-Down Is the Problem: Democracy Doesn’t Need Decrees
By: dr. Yandra Doni – Head of Political Affairs, Gema Bangsa Party
When we talk about democracy, we shouldn’t stop at elections. Democracy is not just about casting a ballot every five years. It is the living space where people help shape the direction of the nation. But sadly, what we see today is the opposite: the people are told to vote—then told to stay silent.
Why is this happening?
Because our political system is still too top-down. Everything is decided from above. The party’s central board (DPP) determines who runs for office, who contests regional elections, who gets a seat, who gets replaced. Local leaders? Just expected to follow orders. The people? Merely a vote bank.
This is the core illness of our democracy. It has lost its soul—locked in by a centralized and closed system.
Democracy Without Participation Is Hollow
We cannot speak of democracy if the people are treated as mere objects. Democracy requires real space for participation—not just surveys or ceremonial events. But if all decisions are made by elites at the top, then what’s the point of having regional leaders? Of cadre development? Of the people themselves?
Top-down isn’t just about structure—it’s a mindset. A mindset that assumes only the elite know best, while those below are expected to obey. And that’s dangerous. Because when criticism is seen as disruption, all that remains is false praise.
Gema Bangsa Refuses to Repeat Old Mistakes
At Gema Bangsa, we are fully aware that a party can be a tool for change—or a tool for oppression if it becomes the property of a few. That’s why we’ve chosen a different path: bottom-up.
In Gema Bangsa, voices from below are not a formality. Regional and local boards (DPD, DPW, DPC) all have real space to speak, decide, and shape the party’s direction. We believe change comes from those who truly understand the people’s conditions—not from political ivory towers.
Decrees Are Not the Answer
We are not a monarchy. Indonesia is not a country ruled by the decree of one person. Democracy must thrive through debate, deliberation—even healthy conflict. That’s where the best decisions are born.
If everything is dictated by one head, then the party becomes a political factory—producing leaders without conscience, without vision, and without connection to the people.
The People Are Not Spectators
The people must be involved—not just during elections, but in the daily political process. They must know who they’re voting for, how the party operates, who makes the decisions, and what the party stands for. If all of this is hidden, we can’t blame the people for becoming disillusioned and apathetic.
Gema Bangsa wants to open all of that. We want the people not to be spectators—but the rightful owners of the political stage.
Democracy Must Be Taken Back
If anyone asks why I speak so strongly against top-down systems, the answer is simple: because I care deeply about our democracy. I don’t want our children and grandchildren to grow up in a country that only pretends to be democratic. I want them to live in a nation that gives everyone space to speak, decide, and participate.
So let’s be honest: top-down is the problem. And true democracy doesn’t need decrees—it needs the courage to listen to voices from below.
