The initial idea to publish this book came at the end of 2020 when we initiated the need to invite scientists from all over the world to write joint reflections of the state of democracy in Indonesia. Then, we asked the scientists to speak and present their writings in a weekly discussion forum, which was later named the Forum of 100 Scientists.

As the name suggests, it intends to bring no less than 100 socio-political scientists around the world to reflect with LP3ES. In the forum, three to four socio-political scientists from various countries talk at LP3ES webinars on various themes every week.

During the seven months between late October 2020 and early June, a total of 28 webinars took place. In other words, an average of four webinars every month for seven months.

A total of 135 scientists (92 male and 43 female) joined our program by speaking in webinars, submitting writings or speaking and submitting writings at the same time. Of the pool of scientists, 77 (58 men and 19 women) wrote critical reflections that made up the book.

From the various reviews and explorations of the authors in this book, as well as from the dozens of webinars that we held, it appears that there is a shared concern and findings among them: a serious problem of the democratic decline in Indonesia.

In this regard, a democratic decline can be understood as a process in which democratically elected actors gradually turn their backs on democratic values and institutions. This is unlike the old days, when a military coup hijacked democracy, resulting in authoritarianism.

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