From Representation to Cartelization: The Role of Political Parties in Indonesia

Alfan Huda; Abdul Rachman Sopyan; Ali Maksum; Dzulkarnain Jamil

doi:10.15642/ijps.2026.6.1.15-37

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Published: Apr 30, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15642/ijps.2026.6.1.15-37

Keywords:

cartelization, political parties, incumbent, local democracy

Alfan Huda

Universitas Brawijaya, Malang

Abdul Rachman Sopyan

Yayasan Pendidikan Politik & Peradaban, Malang

Ali Maksum

Universitas Brawijaya, Malang

Dzulkarnain Jamil

Universitas Brawijaya, Malang

Abstract

The presence of political parties is essential for channelling the people’s aspirations, and the cartel of political parties shows the weakening of democracy. Therefore, research on the cartelization of political parties in Indonesia is essential to determine why parties create political cartels. This study describes and analyzes the causes of political party cartelization in local election. This research collected qualitative data gathered collaboratively using structured interviews. Purposeful sampling was used to select the informants. The data analysis procedures employed interactive models and involved data collection, data reduction, data display, conclusion drawing, and validating the data utilizing triangulation stages. Findings suggested that the cartelization of political parties perpetuated the dynastic politics. Moreover, the presence of a political cartel indicates the existence of oligarchy power. Being restrained by the oligarchy power, political parties failed to give better alternatives for leadership reform and allowed leadership to be held by incumbent families.

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Alfan Huda, Abdul Rachman Sopyan, Ali Maksum, & Dzulkarnain Jamil. (2026). From Representation to Cartelization: The Role of Political Parties in Indonesia. Indonesian Journal of Political Studies, 6(1), 15–37. https://doi.org/10.15642/ijps.2026.6.1.15-37

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Vol. 6 No. 1 (2026): April

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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