A Code of Conduct for Indonesia: Problems and Perspectives

Abstract

Previous analyses have shown that the success of ethics reforms such as the adoption of codes of ethics and codes of conduct depends on whether legislators have homogeneous ethical standards. In this paper, we discuss why the DPD (upper chamber) and the DPR (lower chamber) of the Indonesian legislature have decided to enact a code of conduct. The paper also presents the results of a survey that we conducted in the Indonesian legislature. Data analysis reveals that the ethical standards of Indonesian legislators are far from being homogeneous. In the final section of the paper we suggest some of the steps that could be taken to homogenise their ethical views before drafting and implementing the code of conduct.