Journal of Social and Policy Issues

Patrimonial Bureaucracy in Indonesia: Historical Roots, Institutional Manifestations, and Post-Reform Challenges

Irvan Ansyari — 2026-06-30

This study aims to examine the symptoms of Patrimonial Bureaucracy in the Indonesian government system, where this is the culture of Asian countries in general, especially regarding rewards, emotional closeness brought to the realm of bureaucracy and government. This article also aims to analyze the characteristics of patrimonial bureaucracy in Indonesia, the factors that drive it, and why various bureaucratic reform agendas have not fully succeeded in changing our bureaucratic system towards Weber's rational-legal model. This study uses a qualitative approach to library studies of various relevant academic literature, policy documents, reports of anti-corruption institutions, and investigative findings. This study found that patrimonial practices are manifested in the recruitment and promotion system based on connections (KKN), mass job mutations as a politics of rewards, and the use of public funds to strengthen patron-client networks. The main driving factors include the legacy of colonial and New Order bureaucracy, the weakness of the merit system, and the intervention of political party oligarchies into the bureaucratic machine. The impacts include inefficiency, budget leaks, poor public services, and the demoralization of professional civil servants. Patrimonial bureaucracy, characterized by personal relationships, patronage, and the mixing of public and private domains, remains a serious challenge in the post-reform Indonesian government system. Despite the Grand Design for Bureaucratic Reform 2010-2025 and the strengthening of the merit system through the Civil Servant Law, patrimonial resistance remains. This article concludes that bureaucratic reform in Indonesia requires political intervention and strengthening of public accountability.

Strategic Framework for Enhancing Youth Leadership in Community-Based Waste Management: A Case Study of Bangka Regency, Indonesia

Widya Handini — 2026-06-30

This study examines the level of youth participation in community-based waste management and develops a strategic framework to strengthen youth leadership in sustainable waste governance in Bangka Regency, Indonesia. A qualitative descriptive approach was employed using in-depth interviews, participant observation, and document analysis. Informants were selected purposively from youth organizations, local government agencies, environmental organizations, community representatives, and academics. Data were analyzed thematically using Arnstein’s Ladder of Citizen Participation. The findings indicate that youth actively participate in environmental campaigns, waste bank management, and community clean-up activities. However, their involvement remains largely operational, with limited participation in planning, policy formulation, and environmental decision-making. Based on Arnstein’s framework, youth participation is categorized as tokenism, reflecting visible engagement without meaningful influence over governance processes. The study identifies weak institutional recognition, limited leadership capacity, fragmented stakeholder collaboration, inadequate access to strategic information, and insufficient long-term support as the main barriers to meaningful participation. This study proposes a Strategic Framework for Transforming Youth Leadership in Sustainable Waste Governance, integrating institutional integration, capacity development, multi-stakeholder collaboration, information transparency, and sustainable incentive mechanisms.

Challenges and Opportunities for Policy Formulation of Special Economic Zones in Indonesia: A Review of the Contemporary Systematic Literature

A. Ariyadi Adi — 2026-06-30

This study examines the challenges and opportunities in the formulation of Special Economic Zones policies in Indonesia to support inclusive and sustainable economic growth. This study uses a bibliometric approach with data sources obtained from the Dimensions database, where publications are selected based on the keyword "policy formulation" in the period 2015–2024. Data is analyzed and visualized using VOSviewer to identify research trends, thematic clusters, and relationships between key concepts. The results show that publications related to policy formulation have increased steadily until 2022, then decreased in the following years. In Special Economic Zones, the main challenges found include regulatory uncertainty, limited infrastructure, land acquisition, weak coordination between stakeholders, and the need for socio-environmental integration. Nevertheless, Special Economic Zones still have an important role in attracting investment, creating jobs, strengthening regional competitiveness, and encouraging local economic development. The limitation of this research lies in the use of a single database, so further research needs to integrate various data sources as well as empirical approaches. Practically, the results of this study provide input for policymakers in designing Special Economic Zone policies that are more adaptive, contextual, and inclusive through improved governance, regulatory certainty, infrastructure readiness, and community involvement.

Performance Analysis of the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) of Kaur Regency for the 2024–2025 Period

Henny Aprianty — 2026-06-30

This study critically evaluates the legislative performance of the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) of Kaur Regency in formulating regional regulations (Perda) during the 2024–2025 period. While prior studies predominantly focus on procedural compliance, this research addresses the critical gap concerning the substantive effectiveness of local representative institutions in balancing administrative mandates with democratic responsiveness. Employing a qualitative-analytical approach, this study synthesizes primary data from in-depth interviews with key stakeholders, including legislative leaders, secretariat officials, and community representatives, with official documentation and non-participatory observation. The analytical framework utilizes indicators of productivity, responsiveness, and accountability as proposed, grounded within the perspective of Responsive Law, to assess the quality of the legislative process. The findings reveal a significant dissonance between formal procedural adherence and substantive legislative quality. Although the DPRD has successfully met administrative milestones stipulated by Law Number 23 of 2014, the enactment of regional regulations lacks depth in public participation and fails to adequately accommodate community aspirations. Institutional performance is constrained by systemic challenges, specifically the dominance of political interests over public needs, limited technical capacity in legal drafting, and weak transparency mechanisms. Ultimately, this study concludes that DPRD legislative performance in Kaur Regency remains at a moderate level, characterized by high procedural compliance but low substantive impact. To strengthen democratic governance, the institution must shift its orientation from mere administrative fulfillment toward enhancing institutional professionalism, fostering inclusive public consultation, and reinforcing objective policy analysis. This research contributes to public administration scholarship by providing empirical evidence on the limitations of local legislative effectiveness within decentralized governance systems.

The Political Communication of the Regent of Garut in Enhancing Public Trust in Garut Regency

Renti Oktavianti — 2026-06-30

This study aims to determine the effectiveness of the Regent of Garut's political communication in enhancing public trust in the digital era. The research employs a qualitative approach with a descriptive method. Data were collected through interviews, observations, and documentation, then analyzed systematically through the stages of data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The theoretical framework used is political communication theory, encompassing three main dimensions: political communicators, political messages, and political audiences. The findings indicate that the political communication of the Regent of Garut has utilized social media and direct communication to build closer relationships with the community. Communicator credibility, message clarity, and issue relevance are key factors in shaping public perception. However, a gap was found between the image constructed in digital media and the reality experienced by some members of the public, which has unevenly affected the level of public trust. This study concludes that effective political communication requires consistency between delivered messages and policy implementation, improved responsiveness to public aspirations, and optimized participatory two-way communication. Periodic evaluations of digital-based communication strategies are also necessary to ensure transparency, accountability, and alignment with community needs, in order to sustainably strengthen the legitimacy of regional leadership.

The Influence of Leadership Style on Employee Performance in Public Services: A Case Study at The Tempe Village Office, Tempe District, Wajo Regency

Muhammad Isnan Rasyidi — 2026-06-30

This study aims to analyze in depth the influence of leadership style on employee performance at the Tempe Village Office, Tempe District, Wajo Regency. The main focus of this study is to evaluate how the dynamics of leadership style, including the laissez-faire tendency observed in initial observations, are associated with the effectiveness of village employees' work in the context of public services. The research design uses a quantitative approach with a census method (saturated sampling) on the entire employee population of 11 respondents (4 Civil Servants and 7 non-PNS employees). Data collection was carried out through direct observation, structured interviews, and distribution of Likert-scale questionnaires. The results of the descriptive analysis show that the Leadership Style variable is in the Good category with an accumulative score of 353 from an ideal value of 440. The Employee Performance variable is also categorized as Good with a score of 528 from an ideal value of 715. Pearson correlation analysis shows a very strong positive relationship between leadership style and employee performance of 0.919. Simple linear regression analysis produces the equation Y = 13.804 + 0.919X with a coefficient of determination (R-Square) value of 0.845. This indicates that 84.5% of the variation in employee performance at the study location is associated with perceptions of leadership style, while the remaining 15.5% is influenced by other external factors. Given the limited sample size (11 respondents) as the main limitation, this research is classified as a context-specific micro-bureaucratic case study. Based on these findings, it is recommended that the Tempe Village Head optimize a participatory leadership approach and reduce overly lax (laissez-faire) supervision patterns to encourage sustainable improvements in employee work ethic.

Transformation of the Economic Behavior of Indigenous Coastal Populations in the Tourism Life Cycle of Tanjung Bira, Bulukumba Regency

Ali Anas — 2026-06-30

This study aims to analyze the transformation of the economic behavior of indigenous coastal communities within the tourism life cycle of Tanjung Bira by examining changes in livelihood strategies, participation in the informal tourism economy, access to coastal spaces, the role of social capital, adaptive capacity, maritime identity, and local entrepreneurial orientation. The study employed a qualitative approach with an exploratory case study design. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, field observations, documentation, and literature review, and were then analyzed thematically to identify patterns of economic change, forms of adaptation, and the relationship between tourism opportunities and community responses. The findings show that the economic transformation of coastal communities has occurred gradually, nonlinearly, and without completely replacing maritime occupations. Indigenous residents have diversified their livelihoods by combining maritime work, tourism services, informal trade, marine recreation management, and small-scale coastal businesses. These changes are influenced by access to strategic economic locations, family networks, social trust, service skills, work experience in the tourism sector, and the ability to respond to market shifts. Maritime identity is maintained and even converted into cultural capital for developing local tourism products. The study concludes that tourism in Tanjung Bira has created a new economic cycle linking informal work, livelihood diversification, capital accumulation, and the sustainable growth of indigenous coastal entrepreneurship.

Civil Society and Democratic Challenges in Indonesia and the Philippines within the ASEAN Context

Husyam Husyam — 2026-06-15

This study examines the role of civil society in responding to democratic challenges in Indonesia and the Philippines within the ASEAN context during 2019–2026. While prior research has addressed civil society, digital activism, populism, and institutional safeguards separately, few studies integrate these dimensions in a comparative framework. This study aims to analyze how civil society strategies, state responses, digital activism, electoral mechanisms, and legal safeguards interact to support democratic sustainability under increasing populist and institutional pressures. Using a qualitative comparative approach with a case study design, the study analyzes secondary data from journal articles, policy documents, democracy reports, digital archives, and credible media sources, examined through thematic analysis and cross-case comparison. The findings suggest that in Indonesia, civil society employs hybrid digital activism, community-based advocacy, and judicial mechanisms to navigate oligarchic influence, fragmented electoral law, and digital polarization. In the Philippines, civil society faces stronger populist repression, state-led constraints, and shrinking civic space, yet maintains adaptive resilience through strategic litigation, human rights advocacy, international networks, and local mobilization. These findings highlight the critical role of adaptive civil society and institutional safeguards in sustaining democratic processes, while emphasizing that democratic resilience cannot be inferred solely from formal electoral institutions. This study contributes conceptually by framing civil society as a socio-political infrastructure that mediates between citizens and institutions, extending theoretical understanding of how hybrid activism and civic strategies support democratic sustainability in ASEAN. The study is limited to Indonesia and the Philippines during 2019–2026, and results should be interpreted cautiously when considering broader generalizations.

Adaptive Governance Model in Cultural Preservation: Balancing Customary Obligations and Community Economy in Bali

I Gusti Agung Ayu Yuliartika Dewi — 2026-06-30

This study aims to analyze the coordination patterns between the Bali Provincial Government and Desa Adat (Customary Villages) regarding cultural preservation and to evaluate the effectiveness of the current governance model. Methodologically, this study employs a qualitative approach through in depth interviews with key informants, including government officials, Majelis Desa Adat administrators, Bendesa Adat, and community members (krama). The results show that the current cultural governance model is protective-normative, focusing on institutional strengthening and budgetary support, yet it is not yet fully adaptive to the community's economic pressures. There is a noted imbalance between the symbolic value of culture and the actual economic capacity of residents, exacerbated by rising ceremonial costs and social expectations. Consequently, this study proposes an adaptive-collaborative governance model supported by four main pillars: flexible awig-awig regulation, needs based cultural subsidy schemes, digital transparency in customary fund management, and deliberative collaborative forums. In conclusion, the transformation toward an adaptive collaborative governance model is a structural necessity to maintain the balance between state authority, customary autonomy, and the socio-economic sustainability of the community. This integration is expected to ensure that the preservation of tradition remains proportional and inclusive, while guaranteeing social justice for the Balinese people amidst the dynamics of globalization.

Actor Relations in the Pentahelix Model in Tourism Village Management: An Analysis of the Role of Government, Community, Private, Academic, and Media

Nurisma Rizky Nur Jannah — 2026-06-30

Tourism village management requires collaboration among multiple stakeholders to support destination sustainability and competitiveness. This study aims to analyze the management of Wringinanom Tourism Village using the Pentahelix approach by examining the roles and collaborative dynamics of the actors involved. The research employed a descriptive qualitative method. Data were collected through interviews, observations, and documentation, while informants were selected using purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Data analysis was conducted through data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The findings reveal that the management of Wringinanom Tourism Village involves five Pentahelix actors. The community, represented by the Tourism Awareness Group (Pokdarwis), serves as the primary managing actor responsible for coordinating tourism activities, local SMEs, and homestay providers. The government plays a facilitative role through capacity building and administrative support, although tourism village management has not yet been strengthened by a specific Village Regulation. The private sector contributes to destination digitalization and marketing, academics support mentoring and innovation based on local potential, and the media function as promoters in expanding information dissemination and strengthening the destination image. The study concludes that the sustainability of Wringinanom Tourism Village depends on strengthening collaboration among Pentahelix actors, particularly through continuous innovation in tourism products and visitor experiences.

THE Intimate Wedding: The Transition of Gen Z Urban Marriage from Collective Celebration to Personal Space

Gadis Anastasia — 2026-06-30

The rapid expansion of digital culture, shifting social values, and increasing economic considerations have reshaped how Generation Z perceives marriage, contributing to the growing preference for intimate weddings. This study aims to examine the factors influencing this preference, explore the psychological and cultural negotiation processes underlying the decision-making, and analyze the transformation of marriage rituals from the perspective of psychological anthropology. A qualitative case study approach was employed through digital document observation and a literature review. Data were collected from publicly accessible intimate wedding content on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that the preference for intimate weddings emerges from the interaction of economic rationality, digital cultural influences, the pursuit of authenticity, and negotiations with family expectations, cultural norms, and broader social values. Through the practice of bricolage, Generation Z selectively preserves sacred elements of marriage while reconstructing ritual symbols to reflect contemporary identities and lifestyles. This study introduces the concept of reflexive ritual minimalism as a theoretical contribution, demonstrating that marriage rituals in the digital era are not diminished but symbolically reconfigured into more personal, reflective, and socially legitimate forms, thereby enriching psychological anthropology's understanding of ritual transformation in contemporary society

The Shift in the Value of Geuchik Leadership in Aceh: An Analysis of the Transition from Charismatic to Formal Leadership

Muliawati Darkasyi — 2026-06-30

This study aims to analyze the shift in the value of Geuchik leadership in Aceh from a charismatic and culturally grounded model toward a formal and procedural model of village governance. In the traditional Acehnese gampong system, the Geuchik was not only an administrative leader but also a respected social, cultural, and religious figure whose authority was built on charisma, maturity, community trust, and mastery of local customs. This study employs a descriptive qualitative approach through observation, semi-structured interviews, and documentation, supported by a literature review and field data. The findings show that contemporary Geuchik selection increasingly prioritizes formal administrative requirements, such as age, educational certificates, and electoral procedures, rather than social stature, customary knowledge, and charismatic authority. This change has expanded democratic access to village leadership, including for younger and formally educated candidates. Still, it has also created a value gap between legal legitimacy and socio-cultural legitimacy. The decline of charismatic authority affects public respect, community compliance, dispute resolution, and the preservation of local wisdom. Therefore, the study argues that effective gampong leadership in Aceh requires a balance between formal governance capacity and culturally rooted leadership values.

Communication Strategies of the Office of Religious Affairs (KUA) in Preventing Early Marriage: A Case Study of Medan Tuntungan District

Khairiya Wirda Berasa — 2026-06-30

This study aims to analyze the communication patterns of the Medan Tuntungan District Religious Affairs Office (KUA) in preventing early marriage. Early marriage remains a social problem in urban areas, influenced by social, cultural, economic, and religious factors, necessitating effective communication strategies. This study employed a qualitative approach with a descriptive phenomenological design. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and documentation studies with purposively selected informants including the Head of the KUA, religious instructors, community leaders, parents, and adolescents. The results indicate that the Medan Tuntungan KUA implements a multidimensional communication pattern consisting of linear, interactional, and transactional patterns. The linear pattern is used in mass outreach through lectures and counseling, the interactional pattern is applied in dialogical premarital counseling, and the transactional pattern is seen in cross-sector collaboration with schools, community health centers, and community leaders. These three patterns operate simultaneously and complement each other in raising public awareness about the dangers of early marriage. Furthermore, the results also indicate that the rate of early marriage in this area is relatively low. The conclusion of this study confirms that the success of communication to prevent early marriage is influenced by the KUA's ability to build adaptive, participatory, and collaborative communication. The main obstacle identified was limited facilities, but this can be overcome by utilizing community social spaces. This research contributes to the development of development communication and organizational communication studies in the context of preventing social problems.