Political Dynasties (original) (raw)
DYNASTIC POLITICS IN INDONESIA: POWER, PRIVILEGE, AND ELECTORAL DOMINANCE IN 2024
The phenomenon of political dynasties remains a significant issue in modern democracies, particularly in Indonesia, where familial political networks continue to influence electoral outcomes. This study examines the presence and implications of dynastic politics in the 2024 Indonesian General Elections, focusing on candidates from elite political families in Jember Regency. Utilizing a qualitative case study approach, this research explores the factors contributing to the persistence of political dynasties, the public perception of dynastic candidates, and their impact on democratic processes. Findings indicate that dynastic candidates benefit from name recognition, extensive political networks, and financial resources, which provide them with substantial electoral advantages. However, public trust in dynastic candidates varies, with some voters perceiving them as more experienced and capable due to their political lineage, while others view them as perpetuating oligarchic control and limiting democratic competition. The study also reveals that independent candidates face structural disadvantages, such as limited access to campaign funding, lower media exposure, and weaker political backing, which reduce their electability. The research further highlights that political parties often prioritize dynastic candidates due to their established influence and the expectation of electoral success, leading to a decline in political meritocracy. Despite this, civil society organizations and electoral watchdogs continue to advocate for fairer election processes, emphasizing the need for institutional reforms to mitigate the excessive influence of political dynasties. This study contributes to the growing discourse on political dynasties in emerging democracies, providing a nuanced understanding of how historical, sociopolitical, and institutional factors sustain dynastic dominance in Indonesian politics. The findings suggest that addressing this issue requires comprehensive electoral reforms, greater political education for voters, and stricter regulations on campaign financing and party nominations. By analyzing the Jember case study, this research provides valuable insights for policymakers, scholars, and electoral bodies seeking to enhance democratic competitiveness and ensure more equitable political representation. The study concludes that while political dynasties remain deeply embedded in Indonesian electoral politics, strategic policy interventions and increased public awareness can gradually reduce their dominance and promote a more inclusive democratic system.
2020
This article analyzes the interplay of incumbent, political dynasty and corruption in Indonesia from the perspective of good governance. In the last local elections held in Indonesia, three interesting issues came into the limelight: the increasing incumbent power, political dynasty phenomena, and corruption at the local level. Based on the qualitative data analysis, this research shows that the direct local head election provided greater opportunities for incumbents to build their political dynasties to perpetuate their power. Some analysis considered that political dynasties are the cause of corruption. Nevertheless, corruption at the local level is performed by both dynastic and non-dynastic local head. Thus, minimizing corruption is not achieved by the restriction of political dynasties but by strengthening the control of the government. There are five key points in the supervision process to strengthen the control on the government, namely supervision in the political recruitment in the election process, bureaucratic neutrality, transparency and accountability in budgeting, and supervision of local policies to avoid pork barrel policy.
Indonesia and the Philippines : political dynasties in democratic states
2013
The growth of political dynasties poses a serious challenge to the democratic consolidation in the Philippines and Indonesia. However, the needed reforms to prevent political dynasties from monopolising electoral politics in both democracies remain elusive. Commentary Indonesia and the Philippines, the biggest democracies in Southeast Asia, have been facing a significant threat to the vibrancy of their respective political system, i.e., the rise of political dynasties. The Philippines' Supreme Court has recently dismissed a petition compelling the Commission of Elections to ban members of the political dynasties from running in the May 2013 mid-term elections, due to the absence of an anti-political dynasty law required by the Philippine Constitution. Meanwhile, Indonesia's Ministry of Home Affairs has proposed an anti-political dynasty clause in the new Regional Elections Bill, forbidding direct succession of governors, district heads and mayors by their family members. Crucial to this issue of political dynasties in liberal democracies is how to prevent them from monopolising electoral politics.
Dynamism beats dynasties in Indonesia's local elections
On 27 June 2018 Indonesians were asked to elect governors, district heads and mayors in 17 provinces, 115 districts and 39 municipalities. Elections for local government heads in Indonesia are largely performative events that do not deliver much to ordinary citizens in terms of improved public services or genuinely progressive politicians. In fact, direct elections for local government heads have facilitated the rise of political dynasties. Yet despite their shortcomings, Indonesia’s local elections remain surprisingly dynamic affairs.
Political Dynasties and The Emergence of Local Oligarchs in Indonesia and The Philippines
2013
This paper analyzes the relationship between local oligarchs and the emergence of political dynasties in Indonesia and the Philippines. In particular, this paper employs an oligarchic theory to examine political behavior of local oligarchs in Banten, Indonesia and compare it with the case of the Philippines. Sets of literature argue that political dynasties in Indonesia are less prevalent than in the Philippines. In addition, unlike in the Philippines, the use of coercive power to gain political power is considered uncommon in Indonesia. However, recent developments show a salient trend of the emergence of family dynasties and the increasing use of violence undermining Indonesia’s democracy.
2021
The paper is written using quantitative methods by describing the development of political dynasties in Indonesia, especially in the 2020 regional elections as well as the functions of political parties in Indonesia. The election of the regional head becomes a constitutionally valid effort in replacing the regional head. Regional heads who are contesting the regional elections (regional elections) in 2020 are inseparable from the role of political parties. One of the functions of political parties, namely conducting political recruitment to fill regional heads and presidents. The hypothesis that political dynasties become present when the functions of political parties weaken, including regeneration and political recruitment. To corroborate the hypothesis, the author uses the theory of political parties.
The Journal of Asian Studies, 1999
In the post-colonial countries, a like Indonesia, a democratic political system is considered the best choice to govern. However, although Indonesia has become the third largest democracy in the world, yet still have a family politics entrenched and practiced in modern political system. In the emerging Indonesian democracies, however, family, patronage, nepotism and dynasty are also key ingredients within these politics. Some reflect generations-long traditions of political power, whilst others are generated by the opportunities presented by the democratic and electoral process itself. This paper attempts to investigate the process of the emergence of a political dynasty and how political dynasty was maintained power in Southeast Sulawesi. By using qualitative research methods, it was found that local elections as instrument for maintained and retained his power in local election, especially in Southeast Sulawesi. The victory achieved by the political families in the political contest is caused by several factors. Each political family able to maintain the loyalty of supporters, even from time to time they were able to expand the number of constituents. For a political family, they are easy to take advantage of his position with a number of manipulation and pressure. Various forms of public policy and programs manipulated as his success, intervention in selecting the electoral officer and staffs, the politicization of the bureaucracy, money politics and thuggery. The family of politicians also trying to extended their power through the assimilation process (family wedding) between politicians in a region with politicians from other regions.
Political Dynasties and the Moderating Role of Good Public Governance
Signifikan: Jurnal Ilmu Ekonomi, 2019
The purpose of this study is to investigate the phenomena of political dynasties in Indonesia and its effect on local government performance. Moreover, this study also examines the moderating role of good public governance on the relationship between political dynasties and local government performance. Political dynasties define as the condition where local government head/vice head has a family connection with the head/vice head from the previous period or in other local government or with the legislative member. We use paired matched sample from local government in Indonesia during 2010-2015. The result shows that political dynasties negatively affect local government performance. Good public governance is proven to weaken the negative effect of political dynasties on the local government performance. Indonesia's central government need to regulate the practice of political dynasty as it is proved to decrease local government performance and encourage implementation of good public governance to reduce the adverse effects of political dynasties.
Political Dynasty in Badunsanak Regional Election in West Sumatra, Indonesia
https://www.ijhssi.org/vol10-issue5.html, 2021
The diversity of cultures that Indonesia has as a unitary state has a variety of democratic systems based on distinctive local cultures. This study is important in re-reading Indonesia's democratic system today, in an effort to restore state governance in accordance with the spirit of the Indonesian nation as stated in the 1945 Constitution. Data collection was carried out by observing political dynamics in the 2020 West Sumatra simultaneous regional elections, which were reported by the mass media. , online media, social media, and interviews. This research finds that, first, the existence of society as citizens of the nation will be obtained if the democratic system and political practice are based on the strength of the cultural capital of society within the framework of diversity and diversity. Second, democracy based on cultural strength will give birth to a strong government. Third, local democracy must be guarded, cared for, and protected by the state, in an effort to strengthen people's sovereignty which is rooted in local political culture, in order to be able to withstand the blows of global liberalism and capitalism.
Filipinazion of Indonesian Politics: Politics of Family Formation in Southeast Sulawesi
Scientific Journal of PPI - UKM, 2017
In the post-colonial countries, a like Indonesia, a democratic political system is considered the best choice to govern. However, although Indonesia has become the third largest democracy in the world, yet still have a family politics entrenched and practiced in modern political system. In the emerging Indonesian democracies, however, family, patronage, nepotism and dynasty are also key ingredients within these politics. Some reflect generations-long traditions of political power, whilst others are generated by the opportunities presented by the democratic and electoral process itself. This paper attempts to investigate the process of the emergence of a political dynasty and how political dynasty was maintained power in Southeast Sulawesi. By using qualitative research methods, it was found that local elections as instrument for maintained and retained his power in local election, especially in Southeast Sulawesi. The victory achieved by the political families in the political conte...
Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Social and Political Sciences (ICSPS 2017), 2018
Democracy is a form of government in which all citizens have equal rights in decision-making. According to Huntington, there are three waves of democracy growing in the world. This study discusses one of them, namely the Third Wave Democracy. The third wave democracy usually occurs in countries with procedural democracies like some countries in Asia. This research examines how the practice of the third wave democracy, especially in the case of political dynasties of the local strongmen in the Philippines and Indonesia. As the case study, this work observes the Aquino's family in the Philippines and Zulkifli Nurdin's family in Indonesia.
Political Dynasty in Public Governance: A Close Encounter with the Cebuanos
Asia Pacific Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 2016
This is a qualitative study which described the existence of political dynasties in Cebu, Philippines. The prevailing issues on political equality and perennial rule of political families were also investigated unfolding the Cebuanos' perceptions of political dynasty and its impact on Cebuano bureaucracy. The method of data analysis used in the study was narrative inquiry where storytelling among the selected key informants served as data collection technique. Purposive sampling was used in the selection of key informant politicians while random sampling for key informant voters was determined. The instruments used in data gathering were interviews and observations. The study revealed the true meaning of political dynasty, its advantages and drawbacks to its constituents. Varied rejoinders and call for democracy motivated the selected key informant politicians to continue serving the citizenry. This study recommends that an anti-individualistic voting preferences campaign be promoted by the government, education and youth sectors in transforming intelligent Filipino voters.
The Influence of Political Dynasty on the Democracy Climate
Constitutional Law Society
Indonesia's political culture does have its own characteristics, where regions with a variety of local cultural values also always give different political nuances. However, if we pay close attention, almost no region is free from the legacy of feudalism values, patrimonial practices, patronage and the characteristics of a communal society which tend to be very permissive. This condition then gave birth to political dynasties, one thing that is also a problem for democracy in our country. This research is a doctrinal research or normative legal research. Political dynasties are primitive reproductive systems of power because they rely on the blood and lineage of only a few people. Political dynasty can also be interpreted as a strategy to maintain power in order to remain in the family circle. Political dynasties tend to give rise to multiplication of actors (actors that appear only within dynasties), not pluralism of actors (actors that appear tend to vary from various backgrou...
Political dynasties in the Philippines: Persistent patterns, perennial problems
The results of the 2013 Philippine mid-term elections highlighted the dominance of political dynasties in the country. With all 80 provinces littered with political families, 74 percent of the elected members of the House of Representatives came from such dynastic groups. Despite overwhelming recognition that political dynasties breed patronage politics and corruption, no substantial steps have been undertaken to address this issue. This article examines the general nature of Philippine political dynasties, the reasons for their continuing existence and their adverse impact on the country. This problem emanates basically from three factors: (1) the political and socioeconomic foundations upon which political dynasties are built; 2) the inability to effectively implement Philippine constitutional provisions by enacting an enabling law; and 3) the weakness of potential countervailing forces that would challenge political dynasties.
Komunitas
This paper is about the rise of political dynasties in Indonesia. This phenomenon has become increasingly public attention since the nomination of President Joko Widodo’s son and son-in-law in the regional election in Solo and Medan. The village that has been considered far from the hustle and bustle of national politics also shows a similar phenomenon, namely the emergence of candidates for village head (kepala desa/kades) who are still related to family (pilkades sedarah).[1] But is pilkades sedarah a reflection of the existence of the political dynasty? This paper examines the village head election in Pliken Village, Banyumas Regency, which presents a married couple as village head candidates, using a qualitative approach. Collecting data through in-depth interviews, FGDs, observation, and documentation. The result of the study shows that the emergence of pilkades sedarah is not due to the existence of a political dynasty, but rather as pragmatic and rational reasons. Proposing a...
Family, feudalism and selfishness: Looking at Indonesian leadership through a wisdom lens
Leadership, 2015
Using Social Practice Wisdom (SPW) as a conceptual lens, we shed new light on destructive, selfish leadership and its negative effects. Our study highlights the negative effects on followers of leaders' selfishness, as well as lack of empathy and inauthenticity. Our work also sheds light on new cross-cultural leadership challenges in emerging economies like Indonesia. Analysis reveals deep tensions between Indonesian leaders' tendency to position themselves in self-serving discourses of feudalism and family, and what young, western educated Indonesian professionals now expect of leaders. Selfish leadership discourse and lack of leader wisdom jeopardize Indonesia's economic development. We argue that wise dialogical communication enhances wise leadership.
The Indonesian Elite and Its Authority
BRILL eBooks, 2020
This chapter looks at the shifting ideology and elite production in Indonesia as a result of decolonization. Changing elite identity markers from traditional feudal towards modern education and expertise represented changes in relations between elites and the new postcolonial state. The problem of endowing authority towards the new educated elites was perennial in the history of Indonesian state-society relations and the Guided Democracy period represented a transitional phase in the ideological underpinnings of this authority. The new educated elite had to wait for the creation of an ideological scaffolding that would protect them within a cocoon of authority. This authority had been challenged by the older Republican political elites headed by President Sukarno because they saw the new upstart generation as undermining the elite position of the old political class. The formation of a foundational ideology for the Indonesian state had been a product of compromise and strategies of the old elite to ensconce the new educated managerial class within a state ideology that placed at the center the old political class. This structure would remain after the replacement of that political class with an army elite during the New Order.
The Political Economy of Oligarchy and the Reorganization of Power in Indonesia
Indonesia, 2013
1 This thesis is most comprehensively set out in Richard Robison and Vedi R. Hadiz, Reorganising Power in Indonesia: The Politics of Oligarchy in an Age of Markets (London: RoutledgeCurzon, 2004). Given that this paper is a development of that thesis, and its defense in the current debate, the arguments in the book are necessarily referred to and repeated.