How patronage and clientelism works in village head elections in Karawang Regency, Indonesia?

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26618/yz2ktj20

Keywords:

Patronage, Clientelism, money politics, village head elections

Abstract

 The implementation of democracy at the village level in Indonesia is institutionalized through direct village head elections. However, rather than strengthening democratic values, the 2021 simultaneous elections in Karawang Regency revealed persistent patronage and clientelism. This study investigates how such practices undermine democratic consolidation by examining three villages with distinct socio-economic contexts: an agricultural village (K), a coastal village (C), and an industrial village (M). Using a case study approach, the research highlights the prevalence of money politics, including vote buying, distribution of goods, provision of services, and project-based patronage. Findings demonstrate that electoral competition was shaped not only by material inducements but also by personalized candidate–voter relationships, reinforcing clientelist ties. The urgency of this study lies in exposing how entrenched local political practices threaten the credibility of democratic institutions and village governance. The novelty of this research is its comparative analysis across villages with different economic bases, revealing context-specific patterns of patronage. The study contributes to debates on local democracy by showing that institutional reforms alone are insufficient without addressing the socio-political structures that perpetuate patronage and clientelism.

 

References

Abbiyyu, M. D. (2020). Role of the Botoh as Political Brokers and Gamblers during the Tulungagung Local Election of 2018. Jurnal Politik, 6(1), 65. https://doi.org/10.7454/jp.v6i1.284

Adlin, A., Harahap, H. I., & Yusri, A. (2022). Indonesian Elections in the Shadow of Money Politics: Strengthening Stakeholders’ Commitment and Creating Anti-Money Politics Villages. International Journal of Asia-Pacific Studies, 18(1), 169–196. https://doi.org/10.21315/ijaps2022.18.1.8

Andhika, L. R. (2019). Bahaya Patronase dan Klientelisme dalam Pemilihan Kepala Desa Serentak. Kajian, 1(22), 205–220. https://doi.org/10.22212/kajian.v22i3.1513

Aspinal, E., & Sukmajati, M. (2015). Politik Uang di Indonesia:Patronase dan Klientelisme Pada Pemilu Legislatif 2014 (A. Edward & S. Mada (eds.)). POLGOV UGM.

Aspinall, E., & Berenschot, W. (2019). Democracy For Sale:Pemilu, Klientelisme,dan Negara di Indonesia. Yayasan Pustaka Obor Indonesia.

Aspinall, E., & Rohman, N. (2017). Village head elections in Java: Money politics and brokerage in the remaking of Indonesia’s rural elite. Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, 48(1), 31–52. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022463416000461

Astuti, P., & Marlina, N. (2022). Politik Uang dalam Pemilihan Kepala Desa: Benarkah Penentu Pilihan bagi Pemilih? JIIP: Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu Pemerintahan, 7(2), 151–162. https://doi.org/10.14710/jiip.v7i2.16035

Bahfein, S. (2022). Karawang Punya 95.000 Hektar Lahan Sawah Dilindungi, 20 Persennya Dikuasai Pengembang Rumah Subsidi Artikel ini telah tayang di Kompas.com dengan judul “Karawang Punya 95.000 Hektar Lahan Sawah Dilindungi, 20 Persennya Dikuasai Pengembang Rumah Subsidi”,. Kompas.Com.

Berenschot, W. (2015). Political Parties and Clientelism in Southeast Asia. Bijdragen Tot de Taal-, Land- En Volkenkunde / Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences of Southeast Asia, 171(4), 557–562. https://doi.org/10.1163/22134379-17104007

Berenschot, W. (2018). The Political Economy of Clientelism: A Comparative Study of Indonesia’s Patronage Democracy. Comparative Political Studies, 51(12), 1563–1593. https://doi.org/10.1177/0010414018758756

Budiardjo, M. (2007). Dasar-Dasar Ilmu Politik (Vol. 21, Issue 1). Gramedia Pustaka Utama.

Creswell, J. W. (2013). Research Design: Pendekatan Kualitatif, Kuantitatif, dan Mixed (Cetakan II). Pustaka Pelajar.

Diamond, L. (2003). Defining and developing democracy. The democracy sourcebook. MIT Press Cambridge.

Djuyandi, Y., & Mahmuda, D. (2024). P henomenon of the “ dawn attacks operation ” as a money politics practices in Indonesian election. 14(2), 318–332. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.26618/ojip.v14i2.14239

Ferdiansyah, A., Na’imah, Kiram, S., Haris, Y. S., & Muhammad Syarqowi. (2024). Polarisasi Politik Gentong Babi dalam Perspektif Film Dirty Vote. Indonesian Journal of Law and Justice, 2(1), 11. https://doi.org/10.47134/ijlj.v2i1.2755

Folke, O., Hirano, S., & Snyder, J. M. (2011). Patronage and elections in U.S. States. American Political Science Review, 105(3), 567–585. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055411000256

Harianto, Sulistiono, B., & Baru, B. martin. (2018). Politik Uang (Money Politics) dan Konflik Horisontal dalam Pemilihan Kepala Desa. Yogyakarta: Lasbang Pressindo.

Hasan, E., Aminah, A., Haji Hamil, H. J., & Mukhrijal, M. (2023). The Practice of Money Politics in Village Head Elections and Its Effect on The Participation Level of Beginner Voters. Journal of Governance and Public Policy, 10(1), PRESS. https://doi.org/10.18196/jgpp.v10i1.15576

Heywood, A. (2013). The Palgrave Macmillan Series: Politics. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137328533

Hicken, A. (2011). Clientelism. Annual Review of Political Science, 14, 289–310. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.polisci.031908.220508

Hutchcroft, P. D. (2014). Linking Capital and Countryside: Patronage and Clientelism in Japan, Thailand, and the Philippines. In Johns Hopkins University Press.

Jensen, P. S., & Justesen, M. K. (2014). Poverty and vote buying: Survey-based evidence from Africa. Electoral Studies, 33, 220–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electstud.2013.07.020

Khumaini, M. A. (2022, November). Menjaga Areal Lahan Peranian di Tengan Laju Investasi di Karawang. Megapolitan.

Khumaini, M. A. (2025). Anggota DPR KhawatirkanBerkurangnya Lahan Sawahdan Hutan Karawang. Antaranews.Com.

Komarudin, U., & Pramuji, P. (2023). Between Clientelism and Patrimonialism: Local Politics of the Philippines and Indonesia. JWP (Jurnal Wacana Politik), 8(1), 32. https://doi.org/10.24198/jwp.v8i1.42602

Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (2014). Qualitative Data Analysis (Third Edit). Sage Publications, Inc.

Muhtadi, B. (2019). Politik Uang dan New Normal dalam Pemilu Paska-Orde Baru. Jurnal Anti Korupsi INTEGRITAS, 5(1), 55–74. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.32697/integritas.v5i1.413

Muhtadi, B. (2023). Votes for Sale Klientelisme, Defisit Demokrasi, dan Institusi. Rapat Senat Terbuka Dalam Rangka Pengukuhan Guru Besar.

Phahlevy, R. R., & Multazam, M. T. (2018). The shifting of village autonomy concept in Indonesia. Opcion, 34(85), 2865–2885. https://doi.org/10.31235/osf.io/z8288.

Prasetyo, D. W., Hidayat, E., Marta, R. F., Kurniawati, L. S. M. W., & Chinmi, M. (2020). Patron-Client Relationship between Village Heads and Their Residents during the Covid-19 Pandemic. MIMBAR : Jurnal Sosial Dan Pembangunan, 36(2), 501–510. https://doi.org/10.29313/mimbar.v36i2.6845

Pratt, R., & Yongvanit, S. (2016). Reflections on leadership at the local level and the future of Laos. Kasetsart Journal of Social Sciences, 37(2), 67–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kjss.2015.03.001

Putri, M. I. D., Arifani, N., Ratnasari, D., Auliavia, M. V., & Nuriyah, S. (2020). Politik dan Tradisi: Politik Uang dalam Pemilihan Kepala Desa. Jurnal ISIP: Jurnal Ilmu Sosial Dan Ilmu Politik, 17(2), 72. https://doi.org/10.36451/j.isip.v17i2.46

Rahmi, N. A. K., & Putra, E. V. (2022). Praktik Politik Uang Pada Pemilihan Kepala Desa. Jurnal Perspektif, 5(3), 12335–12340. https://doi.org/10.24036/perspektif.v5i3.642

Romadhan, A. A., & Sihidi, I. T. (2023). Journal of Local Government Issues ( LOGOS ) Comparative Study of Money Politics in Batu City and Sampang Regency in Village Head Elections. 6(1), 63–74. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.22219/logos.v6i1.24527

Roniger, L. (2012). F avor s , “ Merit Ribbons ,” and Analyzing the Fragile Resilience of Clientelism, dalam T. Hilger. (Ed), Clientelism in Everyday Latin American Politics (hlm. 3-24). New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan.

Sari, Y. R. (2024). High Political Costs: Private Political Donations in the 2018 East Kalimantan Regional Election. Bestuurskunde: Journal of Governmental Studies, 4(1), 31–42. https://doi.org/10.53013/bestuurskunde.4.1.31-42

Scott, J. (1972). Patron-Client Politics and Political Change in Southeast Asia. The American Political Science Review, 2(66). https://doi.org/10.2307/1959280

Soantahon, S. M. (2024). The Role of the State Civil Apparatus (ASN) in Preventing and Suppressing the Practice of Money Politics. Bestuurskunde: Journal of Governmental Studies, 4(2), 129–139. https://doi.org/10.53013/bestuurskunde.4.2.129-139

Still, C., & Dusi, S. (2020). Vote buying and ‘Money-Politics’ in village elections in South India. Commonwealth and Comparative Politics, 58(1), 100–119. https://doi.org/10.1080/14662043.2020.1700021

Thesia, E. H. (2021). Pseudo-Democracy in Indonesia: Literature Review. International Journal of Multicultural and Multireligious Understanding, 8(11), 594–599. https://doi.org/10.18415/ijmmu.v8i11.3262

Wahyudi, S. S. (2009). Demokrasi di Tingkat Lokal. Kegiatan Diskusi Sejarah “Wajah Demokrasi Indonesia,” 1–33.

Ward, G., Pinto-Duschinsky, M., & Alexander, H. (2003). Money in Politics Handbook: a guide to increasing transparency in emerging democracies (Issue November).

Zen, H. R. (2015). Politik Uang Dalam Pandangan Hukum Positif Dan Syariah. Al-’Adalah, 12(1), 525–540. https://doi.org/10.24042/adalah.v12i1.205

Downloads

Published

2025-08-29