Constitutional Expert: Need Unity Collaboration To Strengthen Democracy In The VUCA Era

STIH IBLAM's Constitutional Law Radian Syam launched and published his book entitled 'Incoming Democracy in the VUCA Era' at the VOffice Event Space, Centennial Tower, Jalan Gatot Subroto, Karet, Semanggi, Jakarta, Wednesday 6 August 2025

JAKARTA - Constitutional Law expert Radian Syam revealed that democracy is currently facing major challenges. The reason is, democracy is in a vortex of conditions known as VUCA or volatility, uncertainty, complementity, and ambiguity, namely global reality which is full of instability, uncertainty, complexity, and high ambiguity.

Radian Syam, a lecturer at the IBLAM School of Law, said that it was necessary to strengthen the institutional and collaborative work of various elements of the nation to strengthen democracy in the VUCA era. This was conveyed by Radian Syam during a launch and presented his book entitled 'Indonesian Democracy in the VUCA Era' at the VOffice Event Space, Centennial Tower, Jalan Gatot Subroto, Karet, Semanggi, Jakarta, Wednesday 6 August.

In the launching and book review, he was present as a resource person, including the Secretary General of HIPMI Anggawira; Chairman of the LPIHM Foundation IBLAM Rahmat Dwi Putranto; Professor of the Faculty of Law, University of Indonesia Fitra Asril; politician Sukmo Harsono; and Advisory Council of Needdem, Titi Anggraeni.

"In this context, democracy as a system that promises freedom, equality, and justice faces great challenges. If democracy is likened to a beduk that is sailing towards the island of hope, then the VUCA ocean is a full-wave terrain that must be passed with a strong strategy and institutional resilience," said Radian Syam at the launching and book surgery event.

Radian Syam said that current democracy is not enough just by routine electoral procedures, but requires strong institutional adaptation in order to survive in the midst of the uncertainties of the times.

"We are rowing democracy in an uneasy ocean. Core institutions such as public spaces, elections, political parties, and law must be able to transform, not only to survive, but also to direct the nation in the midst of a storm of change," he said.

Therefore, said Radian Syam, the four pillars of democracy, namely public spaces, elections, political parties, and the law, must be strengthened through policy innovation and structural reforms. First, he said, discussions in public spaces have now shifted from physical space to digital space due to technological changes.

"However, social media algorithms actually strengthen polarization and information bias. Regulations on algorithm transparency and restrictions on commercial domination are needed so that public spaces return to become inclusive deliberative arenas," he said.

Second, he said, the legitimacy of elections is threatened by digital disinformation and manipulation, so it is necessary to strengthen regulations, transparency of political funds, and increase digital literacy is an important step. Election organizers also need to strengthen cybersecurity to protect election infrastructure.

"Once a political party, amid rapid changes in voter preferences and social fragmentation, political parties are required to be flexible, transparent, and able to carry out meritocracy-based regeneration. Internal reform and the use of digital technology are a necessity to remain relevant," he said.

Likewise with the law. According to Radian Syam, the legal lag behind social reality can create loopholes that are exploited by opportunistic actors. He considered that a law system needed to be responsive, independent, and able to answer global challenges such as cybercrime, money laundering, and cross-border violations.

Furthermore, Radian Syam said strengthening democracy in the VUCA era was not the only responsibility of the government. According to him, close collaboration is needed between countries, civil society, academics, and the private sector to keep the democratic ecosystem healthy and sustainable, where with President Prabowo's aspirations, I believe we are able to overcome the current global challenges," said Radian Syam who is also the General Treasurer of APHTN HAN.

Strong democracy is born from collective hard work. Without it, we will only drift away in uncertainty, loss of direction, and are threatened with failing to achieve the ideals of social justice," added Radian Syam.

A number of speakers who attended appreciated the idea of Radian Syam which was conveyed in the book. Professor of the UI Faculty of Law, Fitra Asril, assessed that Radian Syam has strengthened the current growing idea, namely democracy must be protected in any emergency. How to strengthen democracy, he said, not with the actions of dictatorism, which will exacerbate democracy, but with institutional strengthening and collaborative work of all elements of the nation.

"In an emergency situation, a dictatorship is allowed because to immediately overcome the emergency situation, the dictatorship is allowed. That's the past. The idea is now developing that even in an emergency situation, democracy must be protected. So this is in line with the idea of this book, in a situation that focuses on uncertainty, democracy must still be protected, not become legitimacy for undemocratic actions," said Fitra Asril.

Meanwhile, the Secretary General of HIPMI Anggawira also assessed that the book Radian Syam was responsive to observing the dynamics of democracy in the era of VUCA or Uncertainty. He agreed that it was necessary to strengthen law enforcement to maintain democracy in this era of uncertainty.

"Yes, I think this is one of the books that is quite responsive to the current dynamics of democracy, but the most important thing in my opinion is that in the democratic era, which is very full of uncertainty is law enforcement which is also highlighted by Pak Radian Syam's book," explained Anggawira.

In line with Prof. Fitra Asril and Anggawira, politicians who are also special staff of the Head of Bappenas, Sukmo Harsono also assessed that Radian Syam's book is very relevant to Indonesia's current democratic situation. According to Sukmo, news, especially on social media and analysis often distort important decisions, be it legislative, executive and judicial decisions.

"I want to say that in the current situation we cannot be separated from the government. We must be an important part of the government's journey. Supporting all of its programs, not by creating podcasts, analyzes that confuse the public so that society is divided and divided. That's what I think Dr. Radian Syam wants to convey," concluded Sukmo.