Ethics plays a crucial role in public policy-making in the disruption era, ensuring that policies uphold moral values, justice, and the public interest. Ethical considerations also help prevent policies from benefiting only a small segment of society or specific groups, instead ensuring they serve the broader community’s welfare.

“Disruption is a phenomenon that signifies large-scale change. Various aspects of governance are affected by this transformation. Adaptation becomes a key factor in overcoming the challenges posed by the disruption era,” said Prof. Dr. Teguh Kurniawan, M.Sc.

This statement was made by Prof. Dr. Teguh Kurniawan, M.Sc., a lecturer at the Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Administrative Sciences, Universitas Indonesia (FIA UI), during his speech at the Inauguration of Professors at Universitas Indonesia at the UI Convention Hall, Depok Campus, on the morning of Wednesday, September 6, 2023.

According to Prof. Teguh, the disruption era has brought governance to the peak of the most significant technological transformation since the Industrial Revolution, leading to increased social and political complexity. This transformation threatens governance’s ability to prepare societies that lack the necessary skills, adaptability, and resilience.

“In governance, the state—represented by the government—plays a central role and faces the greatest test during extreme disruptions. The state must take proactive and holistic policy measures to respond to these challenges,” he stated.

He highlighted three key principles that should guide policy-making in safeguarding national interests amid the challenges of public governance in the disruption era.

“First, the political process of policy-making must align with the overarching objectives of the policy itself. Even if a policy does not fully satisfy certain influential groups, a nation cannot afford to sacrifice its broader interests for the sake of smaller factions. Therefore, ethical considerations in the political process should always prioritize the greater national interest,” he explained.

Second, Prof. Teguh emphasized that policymakers must base their decisions on accurate, proportional, and multidisciplinary evidence.

“This means that all available information, data, and materials must be thoroughly considered, with no detail overlooked. The disruption era is marked by the widespread availability of big data, allowing unprecedented access to information. However, data follows its own inherent rule: garbage in, garbage out. At this point, ensuring data accuracy is, once again, an ethical imperative,” he stated.

Before an audience of approximately 400 attendees, Prof. Teguh introduced his third point: policies must be implemented effectively, not just designed on paper.

“The ultimate goals of a policy must not be corrupted by flawed implementation. One of the biggest problems in public governance is the discrepancy between policies as written and their actual execution on the ground. Once again, ethics serves as a moral compass to ensure that such discrepancies do not occur,” he added.

Furthermore, Prof. Teguh reiterated that policies should be designed to reduce inequality and ensure fair access to the benefits of disruption. “Policymakers must consider the moral implications of new technologies and innovations within the context of a rapidly changing society,” he emphasized.

He also noted that ethical principles should encourage policymakers to deeply assess the social impact of their decisions. They must evaluate how new policies will affect employment, education, healthcare, and other aspects of society. Additionally, they must consider the long-term consequences of the policies they implement.

Prof. Teguh is the 10th professor appointed at the Faculty of Administrative Sciences, Universitas Indonesia, since its establishment in 2015.