Dari Bonus Demografi ke Bonus Demokrasi Aktivisme dan Peran Kritis Kaum Muda sebagai Motor Transformasi Demokrasi Indonesia

Abstract

Indonesia is currently experiencing a historic demographic bonus, characterized by a significant increase in its productive youth population. While this demographic advantage holds immense potential for economic and social development, it does not automatically guarantee democratic progress. Indonesia’s democracy today faces a crisis of vitality—marked by declining civic trust, the dominance of oligarchic power, political apathy, and the shrinking of civil spaces for participation. This study argues that the demographic bonus can be transformed into a democratic bonus only when the critical, reflective, and creative potential of young citizens is empowered to revitalize democratic life. Using a qualitative, literature-based approach, the paper examines how youth activism—manifested through movements such as #ReformasiDikorupsi, #TolakOmnibusLaw, and #IndonesiaGelap—functions as a form of critical citizenship that redefines democracy beyond electoral participation. By drawing on theories of participatory democracy and social movements, this study shows that young Indonesians are emerging as transformative agents who bridge idealism and praxis. Their activism not only challenges structural injustices but also reconstructs democracy as a living practice rooted in solidarity, resistance, and civic renewal. Ultimately, the research highlights that the sustainability of Indonesia’s democracy depends on how effectively this generation’s moral and political energy is cultivated and institutionalized.