PROFESSIONALISM OF THE INDONESIAN ARMED FORCES: NEW, OLD, OR HYBRID PROFESSIONALISM?

Abstract

This paper examines the special characteristics of the military professionalism of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (Tentara National Indonesia, TNI). TNI, which once held strong political power during the Suharto era, was transformed into a professional military that follows the principle of civilian supremacy and has not been involved in politics since its military reform in 1998. It seems to have changed from a military of new professionalism that dominates the politics of the nation, to a military of old professionalism that focuses purely on defence missions. However, the TNI’s missions are not limited to national defence, as it also carries out non-military missions, such as territorial development (pembinaan teritorial, Binter). This paper uses qualitative data collected through interviews with relevant personnel of defence and security sectors. This paper analyzes the TNI’s extensive non-military missions and its organized structure that are the old system of the Suharto era, sometimes criticized from the framework of conventional, western military norms. As a result, I argue that this old system is effective in conducting operations and that the TNI’s professionalism is neither old, nor new, but what I call hybrid professionalism, which fits the Indonesian history and society.