Thematic studies on citizenship transformation and definitions of public

Leading researchers: Professor Kristian Stoke & Eric Hiariej, PhD

The institutionalisation of democracy depends upon the degree of popular control over public affairs on the basis of equality (Beetham 1999ⁱ). It involves four vital aspects: the demos, or people; political equality; public affairs and representation (ibid.; see also Tornquist 2010ⁱⁱ).

Demos within a democracy ideally control public affairs, based upon political equality. A democracy presupposes citizenship in a territory or otherwise delimited space. Citizenship results from a reciprocal process between the state and society regarding rights and duties (Heywood, 1999, p. 207ⁱⁱⁱ) and comprises three important dimensions: Firstly, the extent to which norms, rules and political process define the actors to whom these rights (or duties) are assigned implies two simultaneous processes of inclusion and exclusion. Secondly, such rights and duties may contain universal or residual aspects within the social welfare scheme. Thirdly the level of citizen engagement within political processes will determine their ability to claim their basic rights (Engin & Turner 2002, p. 2^iv).

Public affairs are defined as matters of public interest. Several issues related to public affairs require further elaboration: The first is a matter of scope, with regards to what matters are defined, both politically and within society, as public. The second issue concerns how public matters should be governed, in accordance with democratic theory, versus how they are actually governed. Public affairs may be governed via a centralized authority (estatism), voluntary exchange (marketism), or closeness (intimacy). The third issue concerns the various processes that impact decision-making on public affairs. On the one hand, public affairs are determined by established political agreements and policy practices. On the other, they are determined by globalisation processes and political changes at the macro level. Thus, policy process, globalisation, political change and associated actors must be examined in order to accurately define a nation’s public affairs.

Representation is a crucial issue in understanding citizenship transformation and definitions of public; citizens generally bear no direct influence or control over public affairs, but instead are represented through various intermediaries. Thus, the means by which citizens access intermediary spaces within the domains of political and civil society alike—and both institutionally and individually—become important areas for examination.  This thematic study on citizenship is guided by two primary questions: [1] How are notions of representation, public affairs and citizenship conceptualised and put into practice [2] Where can people turn for solutions to their concerns regarding public affairs?

The formation of the public and citizenship

In order to answer the primary research questions, this research aims to pursue the following objectives: [1]  Identify the locus of conceptions of representation, public affairs and citizenship in order to reveal how such conceptions are produced and put into practice. [2] Identify within practices of representation, public affairs and citizenship the individuals or institutions representing the public and thereby creating the locus to which members of the public turn to settle matters of public concern. [3] Examine existing power relations between members of the public and individuals or institutions representing them. Existing power relations reflect and institutionalise values, norms and rules that define and govern relationships between citizens and their representatives within a single entity known as the public.

This research will help to unravel the many issues challenging democratisation in Indonesia, particularly regarding the re-emergence of ethnic or other collective allegiances under the current democratic regime. It will present alternative notions of citizenship, in addition to alternative power structures, welfare schema and means of distribution pitted against formally adopted and practiced notions.

i. Beetham, D. (1999). Democracy and Human Rights. Cambridge, UK: Polity.
ii. Törnquist, O. (2010).
iii. Heywood, A. (1999). Political Theory: An Introduction. New York: St. Martin’s.
iv. Engin, I., & Turner, B. (2002). Handbook of Citizenship Studies. London: Sage.