Sustainable Democratic Education: Analyzing Democratization and Disruption During Indonesian Election of 1955

The 1955 Indonesian Elections affected not just the first general election conducted by the country. This first election gave adequate opportunity for every Indonesian to directly choose their candidate for parliament and constituents (the body charged with law formulation). Based on conditions of a large voter turnout and fierce party rivalry, the 1955 election was judged democratic. Notwithstanding the success of the General Election of 1955, local and national technical problems including the kidnapping of government officials and election organizers from Sulawesi, Central Java, and Yogyakarta surfaced. Security disturbances must also be addressed when election organizers gather voter information, disseminate election logistics, and perform their responsibilities as election campaign committees—which are prone to disturbance among political party adherents.
Furthermore, creating a cabinet for the period of Parliamentary Democracy helped the 1955 General Election to be held. Every cabinet is in charge of running the election, including the creation of the Election Law, selecting of election officials, and planning of voting campaigns. Despite the dwindling political party participation, this inter-cabinet cooperation effectively carried out the first national election. Election campaigns often bring conflicts between parties, although the great majority of political parties and elites support the application of general elections.