This article is speech by President Of The Republic of Indonesia - Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the opening of World Assembly of WORLD MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRACY (Jakarta, April 12th 2010).
This is a very impressive gathering of the members of the World Movement for Democracy, who have come from all around the world. I commend you in your tireless dedication in the cause of promoting democracy.
We meet at a challenging time.
On the one hand, we saw a positive trend of significant expansion of democracies, particularly in the second half of the 20th century. Democracies, through different means, expanded in many regions – in Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America. That democratic wave also swept Indonesia in 1997, and changed us for good.
As a result, the political map of the world was significantly changed, with all its strategic, geopolitical, economic and social consequences. In Asia, there was a time several decades ago when Japan was the only democracy in the region. But today, Asia is home to many democracies.
But at the same time, we are also seeing a parallel trend of democracies in distress. Military c’oup. Political instability. Constitutional crisis. Divisive polarization. Violent conflicts. The return to authoritarianism. Failed states.
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