The Political Science Program at Universitas Indonesia, established in 1962, was born from the vision of Prof. Miriam Budiardjo. Known as a pioneer of political science in Indonesia, she earned her doctoral degree from Universitas Indonesia after obtaining a Master of Arts from Georgetown University. Before entering academia, she was a witness to history, representing Indonesia in the Renville Agreement, and became the country’s first female diplomat to serve in India and the United States in the early 1950s.
At that time, political science was still under the Faculty of Law and Social Sciences (FH-IPK) before later becoming part of the Faculty of Social Sciences (FIS). In 1982, FIS officially changed its name to the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP). Between 1974 and 1979, Prof. Miriam served as Dean, building the foundation that would become home to future generations of political scientists in Indonesia, such as Arbi Sanit, Prof. Maswadi Rauf, and Prof. Valina Singka.
Under the leadership of her successors—including one of her former students who later became Dean, Prof. Juwono Sudarsono—Political Science at UI developed into a department offering comprehensive education from undergraduate to master’s and doctoral levels. The department has also become a research hub exploring national and global political issues through diverse approaches.
Prof. Miriam’s legacy extends far beyond establishing the discipline. Her seminal work, Dasar-Dasar Ilmu Politik (The Fundamentals of Political Science), remains a core reference for political science students across Indonesia to this day. Her name is also immortalized through the Miriam Budiardjo Resource Center (MBRC)—a space for learning and discussion—and a street within the Universitas Indonesia campus.
For us, this history is more than a record of the past. It is a source of inspiration—a reminder that political science at UI was born out of courage, vision, and dedication, and continues to be a place where critical thinking flourishes for the future of democracy and the nation.
