The Faculty of Law at Gadjah Mada University (FH UGM), through its Department of Constitutional Law, in collaboration with Pandekha and the Constitutional Law Society (CLS), hosted a guest lecture titled the Notonagoro Public Lecture on Tuesday (August 19, 2025). This public lecture addressed the theme “The Philosophy of the State and Democracy,” featuring Rocky Gerung, a widely recognized Indonesian academic and philosopher, as the keynote speaker.
In his lecture, Rocky sparked a critical discussion on the essence of the state and the current practice of democracy in Indonesia. The discussion, moderated by Dr. Yance Arizona, S.H., M.H., M.A., a lecturer in the Department of Constitutional Law at FH UGM, provided a space for reflection on the relationship between the state, power, and freedom. The event opened with remarks by the Chair of the Constitutional Law Program at the UGM Faculty of Law, Dr. Zainal Arifin Mochtar, S.H., LL.M., and was attended by hundreds of participants—including students, academics, and the general public—both in person at Auditorium Building B and online via the YouTube channel @law.pandekha.
In the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this public lecture aligns with SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), as it emphasizes the importance of a healthy, transparent, and participatory democracy as the foundation of national governance. Furthermore, through critical discourse on the philosophy of the state, this event also strengthens SDG 4 (Quality Education) by providing a space for reflective learning that encourages critical thinking among the younger generation regarding democracy. Moreover, through online broadcasting, this event expands access to inclusive political and legal education, supporting the vision of creating a just, open, and highly competitive society.
