And geopolitical risks are rising. Indonesia’s role as a “theatre state,” a country that hosts numerous international military exercises and bases, is increasingly strained by a confluence of factors: natural disasters, escalating geopolitical tensions, a
Jakarta reflects a Tendency Toward Political Spectacle
Symbolism, ritual and theater consistently influence politics. Democracies use parades and addresses to foster national unity, while authoritarian regimes employ them to instill fear. But some societies, like 19th-century Bali, operate as what anthropologist Clifford Geertz termed a “theater state,” where ritual is the primary function of government.
Geertz, in his 1980 book Negara, the Theater State in Nineteenth-Century Bali, argued the Balinese state prioritized spectacle over governance. He found that power existed to support ceremony, not the other way around.
Indonesia hasn’t historically fit neatly into this “theater state” model. The government has demonstrably improved lives through poverty reduction, healthcare access, and infrastructure development.
However, Indonesia’s history includes frequent instances of leaders prioritizing grand gestures over practical governance. These leaders frequently enough favor rousing rallies,monument building,and elaborate rituals.
President Sukarno, during the economic crisis of the 1960s and facing international opposition, exemplified this tendency. He focused on staging mass rallies and constructing monumental buildings.
Sukarno, a gifted speaker, delivered lengthy speeches emphasizing national unity and anti-colonialism. Despite limited resources, he directed funds toward constructing landmarks that still define Jakarta today.
At the height of his power, Sukarno conceived of…