Lemhannas RI Continues Its Contribution to Building a Mental Revolution in Pancasila-Inspired Regional Government Leadership - Center for Geopolitic and Geostrategic Studies

In the spirit of Pancasila and Asta Cita, this nation views power not merely as an instrument of rule, but as a mandate to dignify collective life. Government is not an ivory tower standing apart from the people; it is an institution of service that places humanity and human dignity at the center of all public policy.

The Fourth Principle of Pancasila—democracy guided by the inner wisdom of deliberation and representation—serves as a moral foundation affirming that power is legitimate only when exercised wisely, rationally, and in favor of public welfare. At the same time, the current administration’s Asta Cita agenda—ranging from strengthening human development and clean governance to national defense and Indonesia’s sovereignty on the global stage—demands regional leaders who are not only skilled in managing budgets, but who also internalize the nation’s identity.

It is within this context that the Minister of Home Affairs, Muhammad Tito Karnavian, when opening the Second Cohort of the Regional Leadership Consolidation Course (KPPD) at the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas) on Wednesday (5 November 2025), emphasized the importance of enhancing the capacity of regional heads. This call was not merely about improving technical bureaucratic competence, but a moral and political appeal to ensure that decentralization operates within the framework of national unity.

Without strong leadership capacity, decentralization risks producing fragmentation and weakening national cohesion. Strengthening regional leaders is therefore an effort to ensure that autonomy does not become a path toward separation, but a means of reinforcing national integration.

Moreover, Indonesia—as an archipelagic state—faces governance complexities unknown to continental countries. China, India, or the United States manage contiguous landmasses, whereas Indonesia must stitch together more than 17,000 islands separated by seas, mountains, rivers, and diverse local civilizational histories.

In such circumstances, transmitting policies from the center to the regions cannot rely solely on regulations or decrees. It requires logistical support, effective communication, social alignment, and cultural sensitivity. This is where the concept of the “administrative cost of space” becomes tangible, because governing Indonesia is not merely an administrative task, but also a matter of nurturing trust, a sense of belonging, and civic solidarity.

Thus, strengthening the capacity of regional heads is not only about accelerating public service delivery, but about bridging cultural differences. Regional leaders must act as translators of national policy—adapting it to local needs without eroding the spirit of unity. They must also manage social dynamics, mitigate potential horizontal conflicts, and ensure that development benefits all segments of society, not just select groups.

In the context of domestic geopolitics, regional heads serve as the first line of defense in determining whether the state can endure as a unified entity amid the forces of globalization, identity politics, and technological disruption. Their capacity ultimately determines whether autonomy becomes a blessing that advances the nation or a vulnerability that invites disintegration. Indonesia cannot rely solely on central authority; it requires regional leaders who understand the geographic, social, and cultural realities of the nation.

At the same time, the central government can no longer demand loyalty alone—it must demand capacity: the ability to comprehend the geopolitics of the archipelago, public administration, and the art of sustaining public trust. Competent regional leaders must possess statecraft (the ability to envision the future and steer policy), public management (the ability to manage resources and institutions), and network governance (the ability to build cross-sectoral networks among government, the private sector, and civil society).

Herein lies the strategic role of Lemhannas RI and the Human Resources Development Agency (BPSDM) of the Ministry of Home Affairs in building a modern state. Lemhannas instills national insight—that Indonesia is not merely a territorial construct, but a moral covenant to live together in diversity—while BPSDM hones technical governance skills. Decentralization without the spirit of Pancasila will only produce local rulers who govern without vision.

In a rapidly changing world—marked by digital transformation, climate crises, and global competition over resources—regional heads can no longer function merely as administrators. They are micro-geopolitical actors who determine whether the nation moves toward self-reliance or becomes merely a market for foreign interests. They must protect land, water, and air from unethical exploitation; safeguard citizens from money politics; and preserve the state from social fragmentation.

Therefore, our task today is not only to build physical infrastructure, but also spiritual infrastructure—the rooted soul of Pancasila, the grounded spirit of Asta Cita, and the independent spirit of Indonesia. Leadership consolidation programs such as the Lemhannas KPPD will only be meaningful if they produce leaders who are not dazzled by power, but grounded in wisdom; not hungry for praise, but devoted to service.

Ultimately, the mental revolution proclaimed by Indonesia’s first President, Ir. Soekarno, teaches us that what unites this nation is not the grandeur of government buildings or the size of public budgets, but the shared conviction that we are walking together toward a collectively envisioned future. And along this long journey, in safeguarding sovereignty, unity, and the integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), regional leaders are not merely officials—they are guardians of the dawn, determining whether Indonesia will greet the light on its path toward Indonesia Raya.

Prof. Dr. Ermaya Suradinata, SH, MH, MS
Former Director General of Socio-Political Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia (1999–2001)
Former Governor of the National Resilience Institute (LEMHANNAS RI) (2001–2005)