Yogyakarta, 24 September 2025–Prof. Vedi Hadiz, an Indonesian professor at Melbourne University, was the guest of honor at a public lecture held by the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (Fisipol) at Universitas Gadjah Mada on Wednesday (25/9). His visit discussed how the world has entered an era of Popular Discontent, where public dissatisfaction with the fulfillment of rights and services has led to a decline in trust in government institutions and the democratic system.
Popular Discontent literally means “popular dissatisfaction” and represents the feelings of dissatisfaction among the public, which are largely triggered by social, economic, and political issues. Vedi began his public lecture by stating that today’s democracy is far from what was once hoped for. Democracy should be able to accommodate the public interest, but instead, it has created gaps and inequalities.
“Discontent is directly related to global economic development over the past 40-50 years. There was a period known as global liberalization. The world became more integrated, and although there was more wealth, it became more concentrated,” said Vedi. He highlighted how free market competition reflects the power of countries that influence their role in global politics.
According to Vedi, the most important thing to note is how this era of neoliberalism has created disparities in society. Neoliberalism offered hope and promises that wealth would be easier to obtain, the economy would continue to grow, and prosperity would be achieved. However, the opposite has happened. The economy and market circulation wheels are spinning faster, but this pace has left society feeling left behind. In the end, the gap remains and continues to widen.
Vedi presents a simple problem within society. People are often taught to improve and enhance their abilities to improve the world, but in reality, it is challenging to meet one’s basic needs, let alone improve oneself. “It’s difficult if we only look at the big picture; we have to look at what is happening in society,” he added.
Based on the data, Indonesian society has experienced a significant increase in education levels. From initially having a high illiteracy rate, it is now dominated by college graduates. However, the question that has been overlooked is whether the results of this education can help individuals develop their abilities and improve their standard of living.
“I said that this social discontent has accumulated from people who feel left behind and deceived by neoliberalism and modernization. This did not happen suddenly. And now the most affected are young people,” said Vedi. He again gave examples of how difficult it is for young people to buy a house, find a job with a decent wage, or access affordable health facilities. These things should not happen if the system functions properly and prioritizes the people’s interests.
The lecture, “The Future of Democracy in an Era of Popular Discontent,” provided a broad overview of the challenges facing democratic countries in an era of public dissatisfaction with the system. The people are the main idea and lifeblood of democracy, holding the highest power. Unfortunately, democracy has instead turned the people into objects of policy, neglecting the fulfillment of their rights and abusing their interests. All these feelings create distrust in the system. This leads to the assumption that no matter who occupies the seat of government, nothing will change in the people’s lives. Vedi believes that this tangible form of popular discontent certainly deserves reflection.