The Influence of Human Capital and Welfare on the Quality of Democracy in Indonesia

Indonesia is the third-largest democratic nation in the world. Democracy is viewed as a constitutional structure capable of achieving human progress, since political rights, civil liberties and the State's responsibility for achieving human development reside in a democratic system. The objectives of this analysis are, firstly, to describe and analyze the state of democracy in Indonesia using indicators of the democracy index (political rights, civil rights, and democratic institutions); secondly, to explain and analyze the basis, policy, execution of democracy and human development; and, thirdly, to evaluate and analyze basic decisions and policies through indicators of human rights and human development. This research uses qualitative approaches based on primary data and secondary data (literature review) but also accompanied by quantitative data and triangulation analysis techniques. The findings of the study indicate that, firstly, Indonesia has largely developed a stable political structure, although there is still a great deal of frustration with the weak capability of democratic institutions. Democracy in Indonesia is still marked by unethical behavior; secondly, Indonesia's democracy continues to step forward, yet still places Indonesia in the category of procedural democracy, not yet in the category of substantive democracy; thirdly, there is a clear and constructive relationship, but not explicitly and steadily, between democracy and human progress, especially human development. The implication is that numerous ideas and arguments can be confirmed that democracy can foster human development; while Indonesia cannot yet be classified as a truly democratic country as a condition for being a welfare state.