Professor Gabriel Lele, a lecturer at the Department of Public Policy and Management, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (Fisipol UGM), was officially inaugurated as a professor in public policy governance on Thursday (Jun. 5) at the UGM Senate Hall.
In his inaugural speech titled “Democracy Beyond Election: Agonistic Public Policy as a Transformation Agenda,” Professor Lele emphasized that democracy should not be reduced to mere electoral procedures. He stressed that democracy must be a continuous, everyday effort manifested through transformative and pro-people public policies.
“Democracy must not stop at elections, but must live on in public policy as a space for equal encounters among citizens,” he stated.
In the Indonesian context, public policy often becomes a painful paradox, creating new conflicts rather than solving problems. This phenomenon is evident in a range of controversial policies, such as the relocation of the national capital, the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) Program, the establishment of the Merah Putih Cooperative, and various controversies surrounding national strategic projects (PSN).
Such policies, according to Professor Lele, tend to overlook pluralism and limit meaningful public participation.
“Public policy must not be a tool of power that silences; it must become a space where differences can meet on equal terms,” he explained.
He highlighted three pathological tendencies in Indonesia’s public policy practices: populism, authoritarianism, and policy standardization. All three stem from a mindset that rejects conflict and diversity as inherent parts of democracy. Within such a system, the public is often treated as passive objects rather than active subjects with the right to differ and voice their interests.
“Public policies are often formulated behind closed doors, when in fact they should be open spaces where all voices can be heard,” he remarked.
To shift this reality, Professor Lele stressed the importance of moving away from a technocratic mindset toward a more reflective and democratic approach in public policymaking. He proposed an agonistic perspective, an approach that recognizes conflict not as something to be avoided but as an integral part of a pluralistic society.
In this framework, differing opinions are not seen as threats but as a source of strength for a vibrant and healthy democracy.
“The university is not just a place of learning, but also a space to cultivate awareness of freedom and equality,” he said.
In Professor Lele’s view, conflict is a vital element of democracy if managed in a spirit of mutual respect. He rejected the idea of false consensus, which marginalizes minority voices, and advocated instead for respectful conflict, a model that allows all parties to express their positions openly and equally. This approach, he said, could strengthen policy legitimacy and deepen democratic practice.
“We need more respectful conflict rather than false consensus,” he asserted.
Professor Lele reminded the audience that realizing a truly democratic public policy transformation requires change not only at the institutional level but also at the epistemic level.
This includes rethinking how public policy is understood, taught, and practiced, especially in how the term ‘public’ is defined. He noted a growing shift in meaning from public policy to government policy, which essentially marks a disconnect between the people and the decision-making process.
“Democracy will never be whole if the public continues to be marginalized in policy processes,” he emphasized.
Therefore, he believes that universities have a crucial responsibility to nurture and develop a critical and democratic academic ecosystem. Campuses should serve as spaces that celebrate intellectual diversity and provide a platform for high-quality civic education.
This way, universities can produce not only technically competent graduates but also individuals ethically committed to freedom and equality.
“Universities must be multiversities, spaces that nurture pluralism while remaining committed to unity,” he stated.
By promoting the agonistic approach, Professor Lele hopes that public policy can once again become a genuine tool for social transformation, where the public serves as the main actor in political processes, not merely the object of unilateral decisions. In this view, conflict becomes a learning space that enables the emergence of just and contextually relevant solutions.
“True transformation in public policy will be achieved when policy becomes both an arena and an instrument for democratic experimentation,” he concluded.
Professor Lele called on all stakeholders, government, academia, and civil society, not to fear differences and conflict. He emphasized that it is through the healthy management of conflict that democracy finds its heartbeat.
This requires political courage, epistemic intelligence, and a steadfast moral commitment to the values of freedom and equality.
“A vibrant democracy can only be born from a public that dares to differ and a state that is willing to listen,” he affirmed.
Chair of the UGM Board of Professors, Professor M. Baiquni, stated that with this inauguration, Professor Gabriel Lele joins the ranks of 531 active professors at Universitas Gadjah Mada and strengthens the lineup of 39 active professors at Fisipol UGM.
Professor Lele’s achievement not only reinforces UGM’s position as a center of academic excellence in public policy governance but also contributes to a growing intellectual legacy that fosters critical thought and public service for national progress.
Author: Triya Andriyani
Photographer: Donnie