Dari Mimesis Menuju Rekonsiliasi: Filsafat René Girard dan Etika Publik Tanpa Korban di Indonesia

Abstract

This study explores the relevance of René Girard’s philosophy in understanding social violence and developing a victimless public ethics in Indonesia. It employs a hermeneutic-philosophical approach through conceptual analysis of Girard’s major works and contemporary Indonesian socio-political phenomena. Drawing on mimetic theory, this research argues that the root of violence lies in human desire as imitation (mimesis), which generates rivalry and social crisis. When social tensions escalate, societies tend to channel their aggression through the scapegoat mechanism, sacrificing an individual or group to restore a semblance of order. By analyzing key Indonesian socio-political events such as the Ahok case (2016), the 2024 election polarization, and the 2025 demonstrations, the study reveals that modern violence operates not only physically but symbolically and digitally. From a Girardian social-philosophical perspective, true reconciliation requires a transformation of mimetic orientation, from destructive imitation to compassionate imitation. The study finds that the scapegoat mechanism continues to operate through symbolic and digital violence, and that social reconciliation demands a new mimetic awareness oriented toward compassion and recognition of victim.