Indonesia’s history is marked by major political upheavals, including the overthrow of the notorious demagogue Sukarno by Lieutenant General Suharto in 1966. According to the Information Please Almanac Atlas and Yearbook 1968, Suharto’s New Order has put the country on a path towards fiscal responsibility and austerity after seventeen years of economic ruin under Sukarno’s fantastical leadership. While Suharto’s policies are not necessarily popular, they are making slow progress towards restoring Indonesia’s financial viability despite the challenges of dissipated wealth, worn-out facilities, and staggering debts. By contrast, Sukarno was a charismatic figure who was known for his demagoguery and inability to lead the country effectively.
Today, Sri Lanka faces a similar challenge with a plethora of demagogues vying for power and using crude oratory to manipulate the public for their own gain. However, President Ranil Wickremesinghe is committed to pursuing policies that will benefit the country rather than himself. Unfortunately, he faces opposition from various groups, including politicians, academics, and trade unionists who are more interested in promoting their own agendas than serving the greater good.
Ultimately, it is up to all decent practitioners of the art of government to come together and serve the people honestly, setting an example for others to follow. Sri Lanka’s impressive history of orators who were not demagogues, including D.S. Senanayake, Sir John Kotelawala, and J.R. Jayewardene, serves as a reminder that it is possible to achieve great things through thoughtful and responsible leadership.
