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EnglishEast India Company is not only having an authority in Java but also enjoying a long influence in Bengkulu. Thomas Stamford Raffles, an agent of EIC in Nusantara, experiences the above posts in these two strategic areas. Like in Java, Raffles has three policies in Bengkulu. Firstly, all former treaties are annulled. Secondly, authority is given to the company to administer the country according to equity, justice, and good policy. Thirdly, the cultivation of pepper is declared free, the people being at liberty to cultivate that article or not at pleasure. In addition, he finds the other strategic place to support the trade of EIC and private English in Southeast Asia. The place is called Tumasik and at present well-known as Singapore. He has also a concern on the world of flora and fauna. He works with Dr. Arnold to conduct a research on the gigantic flower of Rafflessia arnoldii and collaborates with Everard Home to study on the anatomy and biogeography of dugong. East India Company atau Kongsi Dagang Inggris ternyata bukan hanya berkuasa di Jawa tetapi juga cukup lama bercokol di Bengkulu. Thomas Stamford Raffles, salah satu agen EIC di Nusantara, merasakan kekuasaan di dua tempat strategis tersebut. Sama halnya seperti di Jawa, Raffles memiliki tiga kebijakan utama di Bengkulu. Pertama, merevisi segala perjanjian yang ada; kedua, dia mengangkat para pegawai dari rakyat pribumi dengan kesetaraan, keadilan, dan kebijakan yang tepat; dan ketiga, dia memberi kebebasan pada rakyat untuk menanam sesuatu. Selain itu, dia menemukan tempat yang sangat strategis dalam mendukung kepentingan perdagangan EIC beserta orang Inggris di Asia Tenggara. Tempat itu bernama Tumasik dan kita kenal kini sebagai Singapura. Selain itu, dia ternyata juga peduli pada tumbuhan dan hewan yang tidak pernah ditemui sebelumnya. Jika dia bekerjasama dengan Dr. Arnold ketika mengaji Rafflessia arnoldii maka bersama dengan Everard Home, dia mengaji anatomi dan bio-geografi dari dugong.

JJ Rousseau is one of political thinkers. He lives in the advance of science and art. However, he realizes that the progress of science and art declines the moral of society. Democracy, in his view, should be implemented by direct rule without any representation. This is caused by the freedom of every citizens which should be struggled. Everyone has a natural right which could not be seized and be given for others. They make a social contract to shape a nation. A government is developed which is not to limit a power but to ensure the freedom of a power. In addition, he gives an idea on how to build a democratic society. This article is expected to give a moral guidance for politicians.

Thomas Hobbes dan John Locke adalah dua pemikir politik Inggris abad 17. Mereka menjadi saksi atas pergolakan politik Inggris mulai dari Revolusi Puritan 1648 dan Revolusi Kejayaan 1688. Banyaknya korban perang dan penindasan membuat mereka berupaya untuk mencari alternatif solusi. Mereka terlihat "berkoalisi" untuk mencapai tujuan yang sama tetapi dengan jalan yang berbeda. Hal ini terjadi karena mereka memiliki asumsi yang berbeda. Jika Hobbes merasa manusia adalah serigala bagi manusia lainnya maka Locke melihat manusia seperti kertas putih tanpa noda. Keadaan perang menuntut Hobbes dan Locke mencari jalan keluarnya. Mereka terlihat sependapat untuk mengajukan kontrak sosial sebagai jalan perdamaian dimana negara akan menjamin keadilan dan kesejahteraan rakyat. Tulisan ini berupaya untuk membahas ide mereka dalam konteks sejarah pemikiran.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17977/um021v1i22016p183

JJ Rousseau is one of political thinkers. He lives in the advance of science and art. However, he realizes that the progress of science and art declines the moral of society. Democracy, in his view, should be implemented by direct rule without any representation. This is caused by the freedom of every citizens which should be struggled. Everyone has a natural right which could not be seized and be given for others. They make a social contract to shape a nation. A government is developed which is not to limit a power but to ensure the freedom of a power. In addition, he gives an idea on how to build a democratic society. This article is expected to give a moral guidance for politicians.

People face many injustice practices at present. This will be a national concern. Justice which should be guaranteed by the standing law does not execute as common. Montesquieu concerns on the justice and law. Government should look at a law as an independent power from the executive power. Therefore, law should be fitted with the concrete situation of a nation and should not be following the authority's will. Montesquieu with his justice spirit inspires the way of revolution. He makes an analogy of king and pope as the liars. They place people as a duping object. He is also claimed as one of philosophers in France. This paper will discuss the meaning of justice and its relation to the spirit of revolution. DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.17977/um019v1i22016p079

It is debatable that Raffles is seemed to be a Universalist or an imperialist. The first refers to a belief that he is an agent of the spread of Western values to the Eastern. Others claim that he is the Western imperialist to the Eastern. This is caused by the forced values to the Eastern. Raffles issued the reformation of policy because the colonialism of VOC and the government of French-Dutch did not have any humanistic policy. He issued many humanistic policies till the end of his government in Java. One of his policies was the slavery tax. The tax was used specifically to abolish the practice of slavery and to the welfare of people. In other side, Raffles forced people to work in his friend's land, Alexander Hare who opened the plantation in Banjarmasin. The life of workers was really suffering however his thoughts and his efforts becoming an insight to oppose the heritage of feudalism (slavery). To short, there was a lesson learnt why Raffles' ideas were failed and came back to the previous structure. Raffles dalam satu sisi terlihat sebagai seorang universalis dan disisi lain sebagai seorang imperialis. Ada yang memandang Raffles di Nusantara adalah penyebar nilai-nilai Barat ke dunia Timur. Sejarawan lain memandang Raffles sebagai bagian dari imperialisme Barat ke dunia Timur karena nilai-nilai yang ditawarkan tidak cocok dan dipaksakan secara politis. Raffles melakukan reformasi kebijakan karena kolonialisme VOC dan pemerintah kolonial Prancis-Belanda dirasa tidak humanis. Dia mengeluarkan banyak kebijakan yang bersifat humanis hingga akhir kepemimpinan. Salah satu kebijakannya adalah memberlakukan pajak bagi rakyat yang memiliki budak. Pajak digunakan sebagai penghapus praktek perbudakan secara khusus dan untuk kemaslahatan umat secara umum. Pada sisi lain Raffles mengirim pekerja pada sahabatnya Alexander Hare yang membuka perkebunan di dekat Banjarmasin. Kehidupan pekerja disana tentu sangat menderita tetapi pemikiran dan usahanya menjadi pelopor dalam menentang warisan feodalisme (perbudakan) yang patut dicela. Setidaknya dapat dijadikan pelajaran mengapa ide Raffles akhirnya terbentur dan kembali pada tatanan sebelumnya.