Teguh Santosa Uncovers Prabowo's Development Ideology: The State Must Be Strong to Fight Economic Stagnation

Director of Geopolitics GREAT Institute, Dr. Teguh Santosa. (IST)

SURABAYA - The Director of Geopolitics of the GREAT Institute, Dr. Teguh Santosa, assessed that the Prabowo Subianto government is building a new direction for national development based on a strong state, economic sovereignty, and the courage to get out of the trap of stagnation.

Teguh conveyed this view in a seminar entitled "Development Ideology of Prabowo Subianto" in Surabaya, Monday, May 11, 2026.

According to Teguh, the policies implemented by the government today are not sporadic steps. All of them are said to have been born from a thinking framework that Prabowo had previously written in the book Paradox of Indonesia.

To dissect the direction of development, Teguh uses three books as analysis knives. The three of them are Politics Among Nations, The Tragedy of Great Power Politics, and Breakout Nations.

Teguh explained that Morgenthau's thinking placed the international world as an arena without a single authority. In that situation, the country is forced to survive with its own strength.

Therefore, said Teguh, who is also a lecturer at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Prabowo chose a development approach that places national security and economic independence as the main priority.

While from Mearsheimer's perspective, Teguh sees a shift from a market-based liberal economy to a more state-driven development model.

"The world is moving in a more difficult direction. Countries that are too dependent on the market will be easily shaken," said Teguh.

He assessed that the approach was visible in the downstream policy, strengthening strategic industries, to the formation of BPI Danantara to strengthen national financial support.

According to Teguh, Prabowo's development direction also carries the imprint of the thinking of senior economist Soemitro Djojohadikusumo who emphasizes industrialization and national economic independence.

In the social sector, Teguh, who is also the Chairman of the Indonesian Cyber Media Network (JMSI), said the Free People's School and Free Nutritious Meal program was not just a social assistance, but a long-term investment to create healthy and productive human resources.

"Without a healthy and educated people, the demographic bonus will only turn into a burden," he said.

He also assessed that the establishment of the Red and White Cooperative was part of an effort to limit the concentration of wealth in certain elite groups.

However, Teguh reminded, the government's biggest test lies in the courage to enforce the law against oligarchs and environmental violations.

During the seminar, Teguh also highlighted the issue of energy transition. According to him, many countries failed to break out of economic stagnation because they were late in building energy sovereignty.

Indonesia, said Teguh, has great opportunities through Renewable Energy such as geothermal, solar energy, and CPO-based bioenergy.

In the end, Teguh emphasized that Prabowo's development ideology would not run without public participation. According to him, economic stagnation can only be broken if the state is strong and the people are actively involved in maintaining the direction of national development.