Era of Capitalization and Commercialization Talents
It is interesting to respond to Prof. Rhenald Kasali's writing about '#TalentWar' (Sindo, 18 August 2016), which in his writing quotes the results of a McKinsey & Co. survey. The survey involved 77 companies with 6,000 respondents. The conclusion is that in the new economy era, competition takes place at a global level. At that time, capital was no longer a problem. Business ideas develop very quickly and are getting cheaper. Under these conditions, for the next 20 years the company's resources will no longer be capital, raw materials, and even technology, but talent. Who are they? They are smart, sophisticated and technologically literate people, smart and agile at work. Furthermore, the survey results also state that although the demand for talent in the world will continue to increase, the supply will be the opposite. That is, it is decreasing. As a result, there is a war in the world for these talents.
At first glance, the conclusion conveyed by Prof. Rhenald about the existence of 'Talent War' may be true. Due to the fact, large companies (especially MNCs) in Indonesia are currently willing to spend a large amount of money to 'buy' workers who are considered valuable assets for the company's future. In fact, it is undeniable that experts who work outsource are also 'appreciated' with a fantastic value for their work contracts. Based on a survey conducted by HSBC, and quoted from brw.com.au (2013), it is known that Australian expatriates in 3 months working in Indonesia can earn up to US$ 250,000 or around Rp 2.75 billion. On average, expatriates from that country can earn Rp 916 million per month. Meanwhile, according to a survey conducted by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in 2014, stated that Indonesia is one of the favorite destination countries for expatriates. Where in the last three years these expatriates have occupied strategic positions in the employee structure ranging from professionals, consultants, directors to commissioners.
However, did the 'Talent War' really happen? Why are these superior talents 'as if' are very difficult to obtain, until it is said that there is now a 'competition' for them? Furthermore, if we address the question to developing countries (Muslim countries, ed) such as Indonesia, why is it so difficult for superior talent to be produced in this country, so that the stereotype of 'excellence talent' exists/is given away when 'label' he got his birth fromWest (which is considered a developed country, ed)?. Is it appropriate for talent to become an economic 'commodity', which seems to be the determinant of the current production model? Dibandrol with a 'price' in the name of economic competitiveness.
'Talent War' and Mindset Traps
The assumption that there is a 'talent war' is actually a 'mindset trap' built by the current capitalist economic order. It is a term that is only known in the liberal and secular order of Western civilization. The current order of mankind.
The era of the new economy is another language of the patchwork process of the economic order of Western capitalism civilization in overcoming the various failures and damages it causes in the name of globalization. Economists who are worshipers of capitalist economic theories today continue to work hard to re-construct the capitalist economic 'paradigm' which is considered more 'friendly' in creating a global 'balance' from the paradoxical greed of global corporations (capitalist, ed) withthe results it creates in society and humanity. Namely, the gap is very large in terms of welfare (inequality).
When referring to the economic order of greedy capitalism civilization, then we will indeed find a condition like today. The economic crisis in the West, which is one of the characteristics of its life cycle, has resulted in slower job growth, while the supply of human resources entering productive age continues to increase. This results in a lower rate of employment.
In theory, if the demand for labor is getting less and less, while the supply is so abundant, it is natural that there will be competition. This phenomenon is hereinafter referred to as the 'talent war'. Finally, it is the human resources who are considered 'superior' or have 'talent' that will succeed in winning the competition. Who are these superior resources? They are people who by the current order of civilization are judged to have 'empowerment' in the economy or 'usefulness' as input factors of production. Where the next one is simultaneously expected to be able to 'save' the destruction of the global economic order that is happening.
Companies will look for workers who have 'talent' and are considered 'very useful' for the company's future. So the price tag for those who are referred to as 'superior talents' is very expensive. Although in the short term the company must be willing to allocate fantastic costs to 'buy' talent because of the high price, but in the long term the cost of production is considered to be more efficient.
That is why the 'talent' resource in the current production factor formulation (based on the results of the McKinsey & Co survey that has been quoted by Prof. Rhenald previously), is considered a determinant for the growth and competitiveness of the company. Where capital, raw materials, and even technology are nothing. Even on a global scale, the strength of these talented human resources will create the competitiveness of a nation. Because of the birth of various 'innovations' which are indicators of the 'ultimate' success, the competitiveness of a company (micro) and a nation (macro) is nothing but supported by the ability of these talented human resources.
As for human resources who are 'considered' not having 'advantages' (not talented, ed) or only having avarage skills, they are used as workers who are priced at 'cheap' prices. Even so, those who are considered capable of being 'empowered' are still those who are considered to have 'great benefits' for the productivity and profit of the company.
In conclusion, whether human resources are considered as 'superior assets' or just 'avarage skills', in the current construction of capitalist economic civilization, they are still cash cows. Used when there is benefit in it for the productivity/profit growth of the capitalists 9. All in the name of global competitiveness.
Abundance of People's Superior Assets
The struggle for resources due to the problem of scarcity, which is the mindset in the capitalist economic system, is a big misdirection for Muslims. In this case, it is also related to the issue of the talent war that is being faced, especially by Muslim countries such as Indonesia. The mindset of the scarcity of 'talented' human resources, which are owned by the sons and daughters of the Muslims or who are able to be born by Muslim countries, makes a stronger dependence on the West. Namely by making it the main mecca of knowledge and progress of civilization.
If the West is currently heading for a lost generation, because the birth rate of its population is very low and even has a deficit, then this is different from the birth rate that occurs in Muslim countries. Although in aggregate the world's population is considered to be experiencing a decline and the condition of the world is said to be aging (which is none other than the very significant decline in fertility rates in the West), this condition does not make the number of Muslim populations decrease. Even the surprising fact came from the West itself, where many of their residents later converted to Islam in droves. In addition, the number of youth bulges or the young age of the composition of the Muslim population is currently said by Western scientists to experience 'The Population Bomb' or 'demographic momentum'. As for Indonesia (as a Muslim country), this condition is called the demographic bonus.
Brain Drain and the Death of Muslim Government Authorities in Building Independence
The fact of the abundance of productive resources in the midst of Muslims certainly negates the notion of 'scarcity' of productive resources among the people. For Muslim countries, talent war should not have to happen. Because their sons and daughters as productive resources are very abundant. Amhar (2013) states that the population of Muslims in the world is currently estimated at 1.5 billion people. Of this number, the estimated intellectual circle is 10 percent of the population (in Indonesia according to BPS it is 13.28 percent), meaning that there are 150 million Muslim intellectuals. They are scattered in various disciplines, and also in various countries. Even its spread and work has now penetrated the strategic areas of the heart of Western secular civilization. That is, at this time we only have to convince ourselves, are the rulers of these Muslim countries able to get out of the mindset that the wealth of human resources born in the womb of Muslims is a strong capital to build Islamic civilization in the future? Or on the contrary, it is considered a burden to have to reduce the fertility rate of the Muslim population.
Are the rulers of these Muslim countries able to convince themselves that even without being oriented to Western Civilization, the Islamic Political System is capable of producing 'superior' talents? Are the rulers of these Muslim countries able to use their authority to build independence?
This question is actually like a rhetorical question to us. The fact that the rulers of Muslim countries are bound in a secular Western political scenario is like a situation in bright daylight. The involvement of Muslim countries in various pacts and membership of international institutions under the United Nations (such as: IMF, WTO, and WB) as well as other international networks (such as: G7 which later transformed into G20, ASEAN, APEC, MEA, AFTA, TPP , and others); has madevery strong dependence on the West, especially the US, including its intervention in the political and economic arrangements of these Muslim countries. Because historically and factually, the West or countries that are considered advanced today (especially the US) are the main actors in determining the political and economic direction globally. In the name of globalization, all these internationally regulated movements are none other than in order to prevent the 'bankruptcy' of global capitalists to direct the wheels of the world economy and strengthen the 'hegemony' of Western political authorities (especially the US) in the global arena.
With various indicators set by the West, through various surveys of international institutions every year (one of which is the World Economic Forum), Muslim countries are 'unconsciously forced' to recognize themselves as developing countries or countries that are moving towards a transition towardssecular Western progress. So that whatever is 'directed' by the West (especially the US) with its various concepts and moves of hegemony - with the language of 'policy recommendations' - towards these Muslim countries, it will surely become the main reference (guiden) in determining the color and direction (policy). ) politicseconomy in their country. One example is the concept of global competitiveness or economic globalization and the mindset trap of a 'talent war' (which is introduced to the minds of Muslims and their leaders) today.
Since its inception, secular Western civilization has destroyed revelation as the highest and noble science that every Muslim must understand. The secularization of science carried out by the West has become an enemy in the blanket of Muslims which undermines the faith and identity of the people. Islam, which is known as a revelation civilization, has faded to be replaced by a secular Western-style materialist civilization. This includes undermining the faith and identity of the rulers of Muslim countries. They continue to believe that the West is the best symbol of the progress of civilization. Highness and honor will be obtained when the direction of science and technology and tsaqofah is taken from it. Until the Muslims flocked to send their children there. Taking whatever the West gives them, including the secular and liberal thoughts on which this civilization is based, as a 'universal good'. This is the misguided mindset of Muslim rulers, so they do not have independence in building their country18.
And unfortunately, this misguided mindset has also become so entrenched in the midst of Muslims that their political sensitivity to the corruption of the Western philosophy of thought has made them unable to sense the results (in the form of a multidimensional crisis that will never end).
Even though it is true that the reality is that countries that are considered developed have been able to create a conducive climate for the development of the sciences. Including the development of various abilities (skills) of the scientists, so that they become human resources who have extraordinary capabilities in technological innovation (talented human resources, ed). However, an undeniable reality that occurs in developed countries is when these various sciences and technologies develop, but their development is unable to move (not having the ability) in the face of various multidimensional crises that continue to underminecivilization.
As a result, because of the death of the ruling authority of Muslim countries in building the independence of their country, the abundance of resources in the midst of this ummah has become meaningless. The number of Muslims is so large, but they are like foam in the ocean. The number of talented resources is so abundant, but these talents do not bring blessings to the dignity of Muhammad's people. In fact, their position seems to be in such a slump in the international arena.
Because of the death of the ruling authority of Muslim countries in building the independence of their country, we are forced to experience what is called brain wash and brain drain. Brain wash, because the sons and daughters of Muslims are forced to fight (talent war, ed) over the crumbs of the economic cake given by the capitalists in the name of 'global competitiveness'. Even so, we must continue to swallow the bitter pill, regarding the situation where the sons and daughters of these Muslims have chosen to stay, have a career, and 'serve' for the interests of global capitalists/corporations in these developed countries. This is because the climate for education and the development of science and technology in developed countries is much more conducive to producing and raising talented human resources.
Islamic Civilization: Incubator of Superior Talent
In #Islamic civilization, there is no term talent war. Because it is precisely with the existence of Islamic civilization that superior talented human resources are abundantly produced. They do not only master one field of science, but also master several fields of science at the same time very well and in a relatively young age range. Even then, various findings from research conducted by Muslim scientists became a reference for the development model of modern science, which is claimed by the West as the inventor. The West is actually indebted to Islamic civilization for the various knowledge they have experienced until now.
History also records that the abundance of talented human resources in Islamic civilization is not only dominated by men. Muslim women in Islamic civilization are superior human resources who are able to take an optimal role in the midst of their society to build civilization together.
The presentation of the book AlMuhaddithat: The Women Scholars in Islam (Oxford Interface Publications: 2007), by Dr. Mohammad Akram Nadwi, a researcher at the Oxford Center for Islamic Studies and has written more than 25 books, quoted by Komara (2016), expressed his surprise to see the big facts about talented human resources from Muslim women in Islamic Civilization. When he started a research project on female hadith scholars, Dr. Mohammad Akram Nadwi expects to find only 20 or 30 female clerics, enough to fill out a single-volume biographical dictionary. However, after 15 years of research, he found more than 8,000 female ulama, and his biographical dictionary now has 40 volumes. Dr. Akram believes this figure does not show the actual number of female clerics throughout Islamic history. “If I can find 8,000 in the sources,” he notes, “it means that there were many, many more than that.”
In addition, Ibn Hajar Al'Asqalani in his book Al-Ishabah fi Tamyîz AshShahâbah also wrote a biography of 1543 shahabiyah, among them there are experts in jurisprudence, hadith experts, literature experts, and other applied fields (such as medicine).
These books show clear evidence of the quality of Muslim women (as talented human resources) in creating Islamic cultural heritage. This at the same time refutes Western accusations against Muslim women's lives under the practice of Islamic politics (with the existence of one Islamic authority over the people, ed), which is described as if life is confined.
Islamic civilization is a great civilization which with His guarantee, the best talents of this ummah will be born and nurtured. God willing
Kuntum khayru ummatin Ukhrijat li an-nas..
You are the best ummah born for humans.. (TQS. Al-Imran: 110)
Wallahu'alam [] 