Indonesian Journal of Political Studies

Populist Technocracy: Deconstruction of Bahlil Lahadalia's Political Rhetoric at the 2023 Investment Coordination Meeting

Sugiyanto Sugiyanto, Moh. Ilyas Rolis — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study analyzes how political rhetoric is used to construct state legitimacy in the speech of the Minister of Investment, Bahlil Lahadalia, at the 2023 National Investment Coordination Meeting (Rakornas). Using a qualitative approach grounded in Aristotle's rhetorical theory (ethos, pathos, logos) and a modern political communication perspective, the study examines the speech's argumentation structure, strategic framing, and political function. The research data consist of speech transcripts analyzed thematically. The results show that Bahlil's rhetoric is dominated by logos, supported by empirical data, reinforced by ethos through the legitimacy of presidential power, and complemented by pathos that builds emotional resonance related to the end of the government's term. Furthermore, the rhetoric functions as a political instrument for branding and legitimizing government investment policies. These findings confirm that modern political communication serves not only as an informational tool but also as a strategic mechanism for securing state legitimacy in the public sphere

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

Alfan Huda, Abdul Rachman Sopyan, Ali Maksum, Dzulkarnain Jamil — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

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.

The Role of Dozer Volunteers in the Electoral Winning Strategy of Andi Asman Sulaiman and Andi Akmal Pasluddin in the Political Contestation of Bone Regency

Andi Rahmat Nizar Hidayat, Tri Cahyo Nugroho — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This research analyzes the role of "Dozer Volunteers" in the victory of the BerAMAL pair in the 2024 Bone Regency Election (199,954 votes; winning in 24 districts). Adopting a qualitative case study approach, the analysis integrates Political Mobilization Theory, Brokerage Politics, and Electoral Geography. The findings indicate a positive correlation between volunteer density and vote acquisition; dominant victories were observed in Libureng and Kahu (high volunteer density) compared to Tonra (lower density). Village Coordinators (Kordes) played a vital role as political brokers, bridging candidates and voters through local social networks. In conclusion, BerAMAL's victory was not only supported by formal party machinery but was significantly determined by structured, adaptive, and village-based non-party volunteer mobilization. This study provides empirical evidence of the strategic role of volunteer networks in strengthening the effectiveness of grassroots mobilization in local political contests

Political Marketing Communication Strategies of LHKP Muhammadiyah East Java for the 2024 Legislative Elections

Yogaraksa Ananta, Andi Suwarko — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines how the Institute of Public Policy and Wisdom (LHKP) of the East Java Muhammadiyah Regional Board employs political communication strategies to support its candidates in the 2024 Legislative Election. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, it investigates the institutional mechanisms and their influence on candidates and voters. The findings reveal that LHKP East Java implemented a structured communication system that included forming dedicated winning teams, strengthening inter-regional networks, and strategically using internal and social media platforms. Moreover, political messages were crafted around the religious concept of amar ma'ruf nahi munkar to resonate with the organization’s ideological identity. Nonetheless, these strategies were not executed optimally. While the "Jipolmu" constituency produced cognitive, affective, and conative effects, the overall impact was limited by the narrow scope of grassroots outreach. These results underscore the difficulties faced by religious civil society organizations in a competitive electoral landscape.

EXPLORATION OF HI-RES SIKAP: PATRIARCHAL ATTITUDE AND SUPPORT FOR MILITARISTIC GOVERNMENT IN INDONESIA

Lalu Ary Kurniawan Hardi, Alifia Moci Maritta — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigates whether patriarchal attitudes predict public support for a militaristic government in Indonesia amid concerns about democratic backsliding and renewed military influence in civilian politics. Drawing on nationally distributed survey data from the 2025 HI-RES SIKAP project (N ≈ 2,500), the analysis examines whether agreement with the belief that men are better political leaders than women is associated with stronger endorsement of military rule when civilian institutions are perceived as ineffective. Using ordinary least squares regression with sequential model specifications, the study controls for nationalism, trust in religious leaders, education, income, sex, religiosity, support for democracy, tolerance for electoral violence, and presidential preference. The findings demonstrate that patriarchal attitude is a robust and statistically significant predictor of support for militaristic governance across all models. Interaction analysis further reveals that the effect is particularly pronounced among female respondents. Overall, the results underscore the central role of gender ideology in shaping orientations toward authority, hierarchy, and coercive political order.