<![CDATA[The Parliamentary Democracy era (1950–1959) is often viewed as an experimental phase in the implementation of regional autonomy in Indonesia. However, historical reality reveals a stark gap between legal formalities and political practices on the ground. This study aims to critique the implementation of decentralization policies during this period to uncover the extent to which the concept of regional autonomy was truly realized or merely served as an instrument to legitimize central government power. Using qualitative research methods with a historical approach and public policy analysis, this study examines various legal documents, government archives, and relevant literature to examine the dynamics of central-regional relations. The research findings indicate that decentralization during that period was largely symbolic, or pseudo-decentralization. The implementation of autonomy was hampered by structural factors such as the legacy of a centralized colonial bureaucracy, high regional fiscal dependence, and national political instability, which encouraged the central government to use the rhetoric of autonomy as a strategy to mitigate potential disintegration. The main conclusion confirms that decentralization during the parliamentary era was merely a political illusion that served to maintain central hegemony rather than to substantively empower regions. This historical reflection serves as a crucial warning for contemporary governance, preventing decentralization policies from becoming trapped in administrative formalities without a fair and real division of power. ABSTRAKEra Demokrasi Parlementer (1950–1959) sering dipandang sebagai fase eksperimental dalam penerapan otonomi daerah di Indonesia, namun realitas sejarah menunjukkan adanya kesenjangan tajam antara formalitas hukum dan praktik politik di lapangan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkritisi implementasi kebijakan desentralisasi pada periode tersebut guna mengungkap sejauh mana konsep otonomi daerah benar-benar direalisasikan atau sekadar menjadi instrumen legitimasi kekuasaan pemerintah pusat. Menggunakan metode penelitian kualitatif dengan pendekatan historis dan analisis kebijakan publik, studi ini menelaah berbagai dokumen hukum, arsip pemerintah, dan literatur relevan untuk membedah dinamika hubungan pusat dan daerah. Temuan penelitian menunjukkan bahwa desentralisasi pada masa itu lebih bersifat simbolik atau pseudo-decentralization. Implementasi otonomi terhambat oleh faktor struktural seperti warisan birokrasi kolonial yang sentralistik, ketergantungan fiskal daerah yang tinggi, serta instabilitas politik nasional yang mendorong pusat menggunakan retorika otonomi sebagai strategi meredam potensi disintegrasi. Simpulan utama menegaskan bahwa desentralisasi di era parlementer hanyalah ilusi politik yang berfungsi menjaga hegemoni pusat alih-alih memberdayakan daerah secara substantif. Refleksi historis ini menjadi peringatan krusial bagi tata kelola pemerintahan kontemporer agar kebijakan desentralisasi tidak kembali terjebak pada formalitas administratif tanpa pembagian kekuasaan yang adil dan nyata.]]>
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