Otoritas : Jurnal Ilmu Pemerintahan, with registered number ISSN 2088-3706 (Print), ISSN 2502-9320 (Online), is an internationally peer-reviewed open access journal published triannual in April, August and December by Department of Government Studies, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar in collaboration with Muhammadiyah’s College Association of Government Studies (AIPPTM) and Asia Pacific Society for Public Affairs (APSPA). Otoritas : Jurnal Ilmu Pemerintahan aims to publishes significant and cutting-edge research drawn from all areas of politics and governmental studies and promotes scholarly, theoretical, pragmatic, and contemporary research, which makes a clear conceptual and methodological contribution to existing international literature. The articles published in Otoritas : Jurnal Ilmu Pemerintahan have been double blind-reviewed by international peer reviewers. The decision on whether the scientific article is accepted or not in this journal will be the Editorial Board’s right based on peer reviewer's recommendation. Please read and understand the author guidelines thoroughly. Author who submits a manuscript to the editors of Otoritas : Jurnal Ilmu Pemerintahan should comply with the author guidelines. If the submitted manuscript does not comply with the guidelines or using a different format, it will be rejected by the editorial team before being reviewed. Editorial Team will only accept a manuscript that meets the specified formatting requirements. The journal registered in the CrossRef with Digital Object Identifier (DOI) prefix 10.26618.
Department of Government Studies, Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar
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The rise of reformist strongman: statutory executive aggrandizement and performative legitimacy in decentralized Indonesia
This study examines a key paradox in decentralization in Southeast Asia: the emergence of strong local figures who drive policy innovation while simultaneously consolidating executive power. Focusing on the city of Parepare, Indonesia, during the 2018–2023 period, this study addresses the urgent need to explain how decentralized governance can simultaneously enable reform while undermining democratic accountability. Based on qualitative case studies, this article introduces the concept of the mayor’s entrepreneurial mechanism, understood as a form of sequential entrepreneurship in which a mayor moves from narrative framing toward policy institutionalization. Findings show that this mechanism operates through the expansion of executive power based on legislation, where the autonomy mandate is used to centralize administrative authority, as well as through political co-optation that neutralizes legislative oversight. This study contributes to the governance and decentralization literature by demonstrating that reformist executive dominance may accelerate local development, yet also erodes the system of checks and balances. This tension raises critical concerns regarding the democratic sustainability of decentralized governance in Indonesia and the broader region.
Copyright (c) 2026 Otoritas : Jurnal Ilmu Pemerintahan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0
Aligning policy through inclusive multi-level governance in local development planning
Development disparities in Indonesia, particularly in Gorontalo Province, continue to be influenced by weak coordination between the central and local governments. Although decentralization and participatory planning have been widely discussed, attention to how intergovernmental coordination functions in regional development planning and how community participation is effectively integrated into these processes remains limited. This study examines multi-level governance in regional development planning in Gorontalo Province. Using a qualitative case study design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with ten key informants, field observations, and document analysis conducted between January and March 2024. Data were analyzed thematically to identify patterns of vertical coordination, institutional capacity, community participation, and oversight mechanisms. Results show that overlapping jurisdictions, limited local institutional capacity, and unequal access to participatory forums such as Development Planning Consultation reduce policy responsiveness and implementation effectiveness. This study suggests that strengthening coordination mechanisms, enhancing local administrative capacity, and expanding access to participatory forums can support more inclusive local development planning. This article contributes empirical insights into how cross-level governance challenges are experienced within a decentralized regional context .
Institutional engineering and political fragmentation: a critical evaluation of the parliamentary threshold policy in Indonesia
This article examines the democratic consequences of Indonesia’s parliamentary threshold as an instrument of electoral institutional engineering. Its urgency lies in the growing tension between efforts to simplify parliamentary fragmentation and the constitutional imperative to protect meaningful political representation in a plural society. Using a descriptive qualitative design and a structured literature review informed by PRISMA reporting principles, the study analyzes regulatory developments, official election results, academic literature, and comparative experiences from Germany, Turkey, and Thailand. The article’s novelty lies in evaluating the parliamentary threshold not only as a mechanism for party-system simplification, but also as a democratic filter that affects proportionality, inclusion, and legitimacy. The findings show that the threshold has reduced the number of parties entering the Indonesian House of Representatives, yet has not resolved weak party institutionalization, coalition fluidity, or elite-centered politics. The 2024 election illustrates this dilemma, as 17,304,303 votes, or approximately 11.40 percent of valid national legislative votes, were not converted into seats. Drawing on Dahl, Lijphart, Duverger, Pitkin, and Mainwaring and Scully, this article contributes a normative-institutional framework for reassessing Indonesia’s threshold policy and recommends evidence-based recalibration following the Constitutional Court’s conditional ruling.
Digital skills and virtual work in the future of labor migration: insights into the experience of Uzbekistan in Central Asia
This article examines how digital skills and virtual employment are reshaping labor migration patterns, with a focus on Uzbekistan’s evolving experience within Central Asia. Drawing on comparative legal analysis and secondary statistical sources, the study traces the shift from predominantly physical mobility toward digitally mediated cross-border work facilitated by online labor platforms. Evidence from the Online Labour Index shows that demand for virtual labor is concentrated in high-income economies, while supply is generated largely by developing countries, reflecting an emerging digital division of labor. The article analyzes the implications of artificial intelligence, automation, and telework for migrant workers and assesses Uzbekistan’s policy responses, including vocational upskilling, WorldSkills standards, and pre-migration preparation. The findings suggest that targeted digital skills development, streamlined recognition of qualifications, and alignment of training with global standards can enhance the competitiveness of Uzbek workers in remote labor markets. The article contribute for recognizing “virtual labor migration” within international legal frameworks and integrating remote-work preparation into national workforce strategies to promote inclusive growth and social resilience.
Populist narratives, digital media, and public perceptions of election fraud in the Indonesian presidential elections 2019 and 2024
Persistent allegations of electoral fraud after Indonesia’s 2019 and 2024 elections show that legitimacy is shaped not only by legal validation but also by competing public narratives. Although both elections were certified, post-election discourse remained marked by polarization, distrust, and manipulation claims. Existing studies have examined fraud perceptions, populism, misinformation, and digital politics separately, yet research on how fraud narratives evolved across consecutive Indonesian elections remains limited. This study addresses this gap by analyzing how populist fraud narratives were produced and circulated in both elections, and how survey institutions contributed to electoral legitimacy. Using qualitative descriptive content analysis based on library and document-based research, this study synthesizes academic literature, official documents, media reports, and survey publications. The findings reveal a transformation in fraud narratives. In 2019, they were explicit, personalized, and elite-centered, articulated by senior political and religious actors, and linked to offline mobilization. In 2024, they became decentralized, implicit, and digitally networked, circulating through short-form content, partisan online communities, and buzzer-like amplification. Across both elections, survey institutions functioned as epistemic actors by measuring public perceptions and countering claims of widespread illegitimacy, while exposing partisan asymmetries and winner’s bias. This article contributes to debates on digital populism, electoral integrity, and democratic legitimacy by showing how election legitimacy is contested across legal-institutional, moral-populist, and empirical-survey arenas.
Youth mobilization and the peace movement: a comparative analysis of resistance struggles in Czechoslovakia, China and Bangladesh
The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia, the Tiananmen Square protests in China, and the Quota Movement in Bangladesh are three historically significant nonviolent movements that have had a profound and lasting impact on modern history, each characterized by the active participation of young people. This study aims to compare and contrast the dynamics of these three movements. This study explores secondary sources, including books, newspapers, archives, scholarly research articles, and journal publications, and analyzes them using an explanatory narrative approach. The findings indicate that although all three were driven by collective aspirations for democracy and social reform, the outcomes varied significantly. The similarities and differences lie in factors such as the role of youth leadership, the scale and nature of the youth demonstrators, the influence of social media, government responses, and broader implications. Thus, a key contribution of this study is that it highlights young people as the initiators, organizers, and symbols of resistance. The study seeks to understand the conditions that lead to the success or failure of youth-led nonviolent actions. Although there is a substantial body of literature on this topic, comprehensive comparative analyses of these movements remain scarce, underscoring the importance of this study.
Integrated tourism governance and policy fragmentation in Labuan Bajo: a multi-level governance perspective
The Labuan Bajo tourism area, designated as a top national super-priority destination, is currently experiencing complex dynamics in tourism development, characterized by accelerated investment, an increase in tourist arrivals, and growing environmental and socio-cultural pressures. This study aims to analyze integrated tourism policy governance practices in Labuan Bajo and to examine structural opportunities and institutional constraints in achieving sustainable and inclusive tourism development. A qualitative case study approach was employed, relying on in-depth interviews, policy document analysis, and field observations. Findings showed that national policy alignment and infrastructure-driven development have enhanced the destination’s competitiveness and global branding. However, governance fragmentation persists due to imbalanced intergovernmental relations, sectoral centric, and weak institutional synchronization. This study identifies three key governance gaps: (1) vertical dissonance between central and local policy implementation, (2) horizontal fragmentation among sectoral agencies, and (3) limited participatory governance, which marginalizes local community involvement. These findings suggest that policy integration remains procedural rather than substantive. This study contributes by proposing an integrated tourism governance model that bridges multi-level governance perspectives and policy integration, emphasizing adaptive and collaborative mechanisms in managing priority destinations.
From public agency to hybrid organization: the institutional transformation of Cimahi Techno Park, Indonesia
This study analyzes the institutional dynamics of Cimahi Techno Park (CTP), a local government-owned Science and Technology Park (STP) currently undergoing a transformation toward a hybrid organizational model. The study aims to identify these gaps by analyzing institutional dynamics, characteristics of hybridity, and barriers to CTP’s transformation. The research method employed is based on a qualitative case study, in which data were collected through interviews, observations, and document analysis to examine competing public-private logics, collaborative governance practices, and institutional barriers. The findings showed that although the CTP has developed early forms of hybridity through collaborative networks involving the government, academics, industry, and the creative community, its operational autonomy remains constrained by structural rigidity, limited financial autonomy, and gaps in human resource capacity. This study demonstrates that transforming the CTP from a public agency into STP a hybrid organization requires more than just administrative reforms; it necessitates broader institutional changes in governance, capacity, and policy alignment. The research has formulated a transformation model toward a Regional Public Service Agency that emphasizes human resource development, financial autonomy, and the institutionalization of collaborative governance mechanisms. This study contributes to the development of the concept of hybrid organizations as a public sector innovation in developing countries.
Indonesia’s multi-track diplomacy: efforts to address the educational rights of undocumented Indonesian migrant workers’ children in East Malaysia
The right to education for undocumented children of Indonesian migrant workers (IMWs) in East Malaysia remains inadequately protected due to administrative exclusion, legal uncertainty, geographic remoteness, and fragmented cross-border governance. This study analyzes how Indonesia’s multi-track diplomacy operates to protect the right to education for undocumented children of IMWs in East Malaysia. This research employs a qualitative explanatory design based on semi-structured interviews supported by document analysis. Data were analyzed through thematic coding using NVivo, with the application of triangulation and participant verification to enhance credibility. Findings indicate that educational protection functions through coordination across four main Tracks. Tracks One provides policy authority, diplomatic legitimacy, schools, documentation facilitation, and scholarships. Tracks Two translates formal commitments into operational support, particularly regarding student repatriation and placement. Tracks Four maintains access in remote plantation areas through mentor teachers who fill teaching vacancies. Tracks Five strengthens the system through temporary teaching, training, and the production of policy-relevant knowledge. This study makes a theoretical contribution by expanding multi-track diplomacy beyond conflict resolution and demonstrating its value as an analytical lens for cross-border social governance. It further demonstrates that effective coordination depends on functional complementarity, negotiated interdependence, and adaptive responses to structural constraints.
Governance challenges and non-traditional security threats in Pakistan: terrorism, cybersecurity, and climate risks
Pakistan’s security concerns have expanded to include terrorism, cyber insecurity, and climate-induced risks. These interconnected concerns are straining governance, institutional coordination, and long-term stability, necessitating a comprehensive reevaluation of national security beyond military solutions. The study analyses Pakistan’s non-traditional security threats over time, evaluates institutions and governance’s responses to cyber threats, climate change, and terrorism, and identifies policy gaps that hinder integrated security management. Systematic document analysis underpins the study’s qualitative research design. Official papers, anti-terrorism initiatives, cybersecurity frameworks, climate change adaptation measures, and scientific studies from 2001–2024 provided information. The study uses thematic and comparative methodologies to track risks, institutional responses, and governance effectiveness across sectors. The Result show Three significant patterns emerge. First, even while counterterrorism efforts have considerably reduced militant violence, governance issues, including social and economic marginalization and ideological radicalization, have not been addressed. Second, as Pakistan’s digital dependence has outpaced institutional cybersecurity safeguards, regulatory monitoring and policy responses are lacking. Third, climate-related hazards, including water stress and extreme weather events, aggravate food insecurity and rural livelihoods, increasing social and security vulnerabilities. The lack of policy integration and interagency coordination limits long-term effectiveness across the board. The study’s results and policy implications suggest that integrated governance is needed to address Pakistan’s security issues, rather than sector-specific initiatives. Policy implications include improving institutional coordination, integrating climate resilience and cybersecurity into national security planning, and implementing inclusive governance reforms to promote community resilience. A flexible and comprehensive plan is needed to improve national stability and sustainable growth.
Copyright (c) 2025 Otoritas : Jurnal Ilmu Pemerintahan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0
Historical implications of ‘war on terror’ to politics and policy of Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan
Over the past few decades, the Middle East has been plagued by a series of conflicts linked to terrorism, which have disrupted the stability of several countries in the region. Since the war on terrorism was declared, terrorism has influenced politics and policy in the Middle East. Furthermore, terrorism has also hindered economic prosperity, development, and social welfare in countries caught up in conflict. This article aims to examine terrorism and its impact on the political and policy spheres in the Middle East, specifically in the selected countries: Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. This article uses a case study method to examine this topic in detail for each country. This article utilizes several global indices, including the Global Terrorism Index 2017–2024, the Global Peace Index, the Conflict Index, the Fragile States Index, and the Failed States Index. The findings indicate that regime change, clashes over ethnic and religious differences, and regional power politics are the underlying causes of the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that the context and conditions of Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan as post-conflict states remain fragile and are influenced by terrorism, the impact of the war on terror, and regional competition, which have serious long-term implications for each country. This article contributes to the development of the Regional Security Complex Theory by Buzan and Waver (2003) regarding the War on Terrorism, which relates to the Middle East security dilemma and the balance of power.
Hybrid civil society organizations in Vietnam: the case of the fishery union of Quang Ngai province
The universal application of the traditional social work model has faced growing criticism in non-Western contexts, particularly in developing countries like Vietnam and China, where the relationship between the state and social organizations is complex and multifaceted. This study addresses this gap by examining the Fisheries Trade Union in Quang Ngai province as a representative example of a hybrid civil society actor in Vietnam. Using a qualitative ethnographic approach, which includes fieldwork and organizational analysis, we explore how the Union navigates its dual role as both a conduit for implementing state policies and an advocate for its members' negotiations to gain autonomy, despite significant institutional constraints. The study presents a novel model of organizational resilience and community empowerment that challenges the conventional state-society dichotomy prevalent in Western theories. This study uses ethnographic approach in over six months in 2024, with a combination of semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, document analysis, and participant observation. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of hybrid organizational structures in non-Western settings, offering novel insights into their potential for fostering community-based social development and providing a more nuanced perspective for both researchers and policymakers. Qualitative analysis demonstrates that the Union sustains and advances itself by strategically balancing dual functions: executing state policy directives while representing and safeguarding the interests of the fishing community.
Corporate social responsibility and the effectiveness of local governance practices in the construction sector in Vietnam: an empirical survey-based analysis
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is increasingly recognized as a strategic instrument for strengthening public governance and advancing sustainable development, particularly in emerging economies such as Vietnam. In the construction sector, which is characterized by high environmental and social risks, the integration of CSR remains largely voluntary, with limited regulatory enforcement and weak monitoring systems. This institutional gap creates urgency to investigate how CSR contributes to local governance effectiveness, especially within the context of ongoing digital transformation. This study examines the impact of CSR dimensions on local governance effectiveness in Vietnam’s construction sector using 110 survey based observations from firms, government officials, and experts collected between 2022 and 2024. A quantitative approach was applied, including Cronbach’s Alpha, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression using SPSS 26.0. The results indicate that all CSR components significantly enhance governance effectiveness, with legal and ethical responsibilities exerting a stronger influence than economic and philanthropic dimensions. The novelty of this research lies in positioning CSR as a complementary governance mechanism rather than merely a corporate obligation. The study contributes empirical evidence to the limited literature on CSR and public governance in developing contexts and offers policy relevant insights to strengthen legal frameworks, improve multi stakeholder coordination, and promote ethical business practices for sustainable governance outcomes.
Strategy for integrating data on demographic to accelerate digital transformation in Makassar City, Indonesia
This study examines Makassar, Indonesia, as an example of accelerated demographic data integration. The uniqueness of this study lies in the application of SWOT-based diagnostics in qualitative research to map, within a single analytical framework, the conditions that facilitate and the obstacles that shape the speed and quality of data integration across various institutions. A qualitative approach was used to reveal and discuss strategies for accelerating demographic data integration to support digital transformation. The analysis shows that the application of information technology, inter-agency collaboration, and systematic human resource capacity building are determining factors for acceleration. The results of the study found that the main challenges include data privacy issues, system interoperability, and resistance to change. The contribution of this study provides insights into data integration strategies to support more effective and efficient digital transformation in the future.
Affordable housing policy: implications and prospects for low-income communities in Indonesia
The inconsistency between Law No. 1 of 2011 on Housing and Settlement Areas and Law No. 23 of 2014 on Regional Government has led to challenges in managing housing and settlement affairs, particularly with the introduction of the Workers' Housing Savings Scheme. This policy mandates workers to contribute to a housing savings program to facilitate home ownership. However, housing and settlement issues are considered mandatory public services, as the state is responsible for fulfilling the basic needs of its citizens. This article employs a qualitative research methodology, utilizing literature studies and policy document analysis to examine the role of local governments in implementing affordable housing provisions within the central government's national housing program. The findings indicate that existing housing policies, particularly, have not effectively addressed the housing needs of workers, as the financial burden of regular contributions or salary deductions is significant. Although government housing programs are designed to support homeownership, they have become an additional financial burden rather than a viable solution. On the other hand, various government subsidy programs, such as the One Million Houses Program, have shown positive results in providing affordable housing. This collaborative initiative between the government and housing developers aims to accelerate housing construction, demonstrating a growing trend in addressing the housing backlog. The article concludes that optimizing existing government housing programs and policies is crucial for enhancing housing accessibility and alleviating the financial burden on low-income workers.
Collaborative governance in green tourism village administration in Bali through SIDeWi*HuB
This study examines collaborative governance in Bali’s Green Tourism Villages (Desa Wisata Hijau, DWH) as a strategy for post–COVID-19 rural tourism sustainability amid urban hotel oversupply and environmental degradation. A mixed-methods design was employed, combining quantitative survey data from 126 respondents across 28 tourism villages with qualitative–secondary analysis of policy documents, tourism statistics, and environmental reports to contextualize empirical findings beyond the village level. Quantitative data were collected through the SIDeWiHuB digital platform, which integrates sustainability assessment, village registration, and DeWiKu e-commerce services. Three constructs were measured using validated multi-item scales: Need for Green Village (N-GreenV), Community Participation (CP), and Perception of Sustainability (PS), derived from established sustainability and participatory tourism frameworks and benchmarked against normative standards developed from prior baseline studies. Internal consistency and construct validity were assessed before analysis. Multiple linear regression was applied, with diagnostic checks for normality, multicollinearity, and model fit conducted to ensure robustness. Results indicate that all sampled villages met the Kalpataru 5 (greenest) classification threshold. This findings demonstrate the analytical validity of SIDeWiHuB as a digitally enabled collaborative governance instrument within a Pentahelix framework and support its potential scalability as a policy tool for sustainable rural tourism governance in Indonesia.
Civil society and street politics: contesting state legitimacy through demonstrations in emerging democracies
The wave of street demonstrations in Indonesia in recent years has highlighted tensions between the state and civil society, particularly when representative institutions are perceived as no longer capable of engaging in deliberative communication with citizens. This study aims to analyze street demonstrations as a political practice of civil society in response to the weakening of trust in formal democratic channels. This study focuses on a series of protests demanding the dissolution of the House of Representatives on August 25–31, 2025. This study used a phenomenological approach to analyze the symbolic and moral meanings emerging from the demonstrations. Data were collected through an analysis of media reports, civil society organization reports, official state documents, and social media content. The analytical process followed the Miles and Huberman model through data reduction, presentation, and conclusions. The findings indicate that when communication between the state and citizens is disrupted and public trust weakens, street politics emerges as a space to articulate criticism and ethical demands. The escalation of violence, differing narratives regarding the victims, and high public dissatisfaction with the handling of protests highlight the tension between electoral legitimacy and moral legitimacy. This study suggests that democratic legitimacy is dynamic and continuously negotiated through interactions between the state and civil society, as well as non-electoral participation in the public sphere.
Artificial intelligence surveillance and the right to privacy in Vietnam a human security policy
The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI)–enabled surveillance has become a central feature of contemporary governance, enhancing public security while raising serious concerns for the right to privacy. This article examines AI surveillance in Vietnam through the combined lenses of human security and Article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Using doctrinal legal analysis and focused comparative evaluation, the study analyses how AI surveillance practices—such as facial recognition, biometric profiling, and behavioural analytics—generate cumulative privacy risks, including informational opacity, behavioural chilling, algorithmic bias, and institutional accountability deficits. It further assesses whether Vietnam’s existing legal framework, particularly the Law on Cybersecurity and Decree 13/2023/NĐ-CP, satisfies ICCPR standards of legality, legitimate aim, necessity, proportionality, and effective oversight. The findings reveal significant normative and institutional gaps. Drawing on comparative insights from the EU’s GDPR and South Korea’s PIPA, the article proposes a phased and context-sensitive reform pathway to strengthen privacy protection while supporting Vietnam’s digital transformation and national-security objectives.
Bridging the policy gap of Koperasi Desa/Kelurahan Merah Putih (KDMP): from national design to village level practices
This study examines the policy implementation gap between the national design of KDMP program and its implementation at regional and village levels, particularly in Riau Province. Using an exploratory qualitative approach, data were collected through literature review, focus group discussions, and in-depth interviews with key stakeholders. The analysis applies a gap analysis framework across five dimensions: policy content and context, institutional capacity, stakeholder participation, stakeholder roles and interests, and collaboration and digital governance. The findings reveal a significant discrepancy between rapid legal establishment and limited operational readiness. Although 1,866 KDMP units have been formally established in Riau, only a small proportion are operational in terms of business activation, financing access, and partnerships. This study contributes by developing a multilevel governance framework to explain how national policy design, local institutional capacity, and multi-actor collaboration shape policy outcomes. Strengthening institutional capacity, regulatory alignment, and collaborative networks is essential for ensuring the effectiveness of KDMP as a driver of inclusive rural development.
A decade of academic merit decline: policy and institutional practices in conferring honorary professorships at Indonesian universities (2014–2024)
This study examines the dynamics of policy and institutional practices in conferring honorary professorships in Indonesian higher education institutions from 2014 to 2024. Using qualitative document analysis, it critically analyzes regulatory frameworks, institutional decision-making processes, and the competing institutional logics—drawing explicitly on the Institutional Logics Perspective—that shape the awarding of honorary professorships. The findings reveal a sharp rise in the conferral of honorary titles following the issuance of Ministry of Education and Culture Regulation No. 38/2021. However, the practice remains dominated by political rather than academic considerations, as most recipients are politicians or public officials, reflecting the influence of political and market logics over academic and professional standards. The study also highlights regulatory ambiguities and weak enforcement mechanisms that facilitate transactional practices and undermine institutional credibility, alongside persistent gender disparities marked by the limited representation of female recipients. The research argues for a critical reassessment of existing regulations and stronger, transparent, and academically grounded procedures. Its findings contribute to broader discussions on higher education governance in Indonesia and offer conceptual relevance for international debates on honorary titles, especially regarding tensions between academic integrity, institutional reputation, and political influence. The study calls for universities to balance public image considerations with academic merit to ensure that honorary professorships reflect genuine contributions to science, education, and society.
Pandemic borders policy: securitizing stateless people during COVID-19 in Sabah, Malaysia
Drawing on Copenhagen School securitization theory, this study investigates how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the securitization of stateless migration in Sabah, Malaysia. Stateless communities, already excluded from healthcare, employment, and social protection, became increasingly framed as existential threats to public health during a period marked by both pandemic crisis and federal political instability. The analysis focuses on the timeframe from March 18, 2020 to August 16, 2021, when the sudden change of federal government intensified securitization rhetoric, as the new administration sought to consolidate legitimacy through migration control. This research identifies two interlinked securitization strategies. First, punitive measures such as mass arrests, prolonged detention, and deportations symbolized state authority while addressing public anxieties. Second, deterrence mechanisms including reinforced border patrols, visible security deployments, and integrated security operations expanded surveillance and control over marginalized populations. While these measures temporarily reduced unauthorized border crossings, they also deepened the marginalization of stateless communities, producing family separations and heightened social tensions. By situating stateless migration at the intersection of public health and national security, this study underscores the urgency of examining how political crises shape securitization processes and contributes to broader debates on human security, migration governance, and state legitimacy under pandemic conditions.
The role of multi-stakeholder collaboration in advancing msmes and creative economy: insights from Gorontalo’s pentahelix policy model
This research employs a mixed-methods approach with an explanatory sequential design. Data were collected from 30 stakeholders representing five Pentahelix actors through structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews. The study focuses on three key variables: Government Role, Community Role, and Academic Role as independent variables, with Implementation Effectiveness as the dependent variable. Data analysis utilized multiple regression analysis and thematic analysis for qualitative data. Statistical analysis revealed that all three stakeholder roles significantly influence implementation effectiveness (R² = 0.699, F = 24.758, p < 0.001). Community Role demonstrated the strongest influence (β = 0.521, p < 0.001), followed by Government Role (β = 0.387, p = 0.001) and Academic Role (β = 0.294, p = 0.003). Qualitative findings identified key success factors including active community participation, government responsiveness, and academia-industry partnerships, while highlighting challenges in bureaucratic coordination, budget adequacy, and technology transfer. The Pentahelix collaborative governance model proves effective for MSME policy implementation, with community engagement serving as the primary driver. However, successful implementation requires addressing structural barriers including bureaucratic inefficiencies, limited financial resources, and weak inter-sectoral coordination. The study contributes to collaborative governance theory and provides practical insights for policy makers in developing regions.
Enhancing civil servants performance through technical competency development in Provincial Government of West Sulawesi, Indonesia
This study aims to determine the Technical Competency Development Plan at the Regional Civil Service Agency of West Sulawesi Province. This study uses a qualitative method with a descriptive approach to provide a realistic, logical, factual, and accurate picture of what is happening in the field. Data was collected through document review, observation, and interviews. The data obtained was then analyzed based on the National Institute of Public Administration Regulation No. 10 of 2018 on the Development of Civil Servant Competencies. The results showed that the inventory in the first stage, namely the completion of civil servant profiles, had not yet been carried out. The competency gap analysis as the second stage had also not been carried out because the job competency standards were still in the drafting stage. The third stage is performance gap analysis through the assessment of employee performance targets, where overall civil servants are rated as good, but competency improvement is considered necessary to support civil servant performance in achieving the maximum result, which is an excellent rating. Finally, the verification and validation stage has not been carried out due to the absence of documents outlining the planning needs for competency development.
Local innovations to tackling covid-19 in Indonesia: how Depok City government managed the pandemic effectively?
This article examines how locally driven innovations contribute to the effectiveness of decentralization policies, focusing on the COVID-19 pandemic response by the Depok City Government in Indonesia. Using a qualitative case study approach, the research draws on in-depth interviews, field surveys with 932 residents, an online survey of 218 healthcare workers conducted between September 2020 and January 2021, and content analysis of mass and social media conducted in collaboration with citizen experts. The analysis highlights two key initiatives. The first is the COVID-19 Information Center for Depok City (Pusat Informasi COVID-19 Kota Depok), better known as the PICODEP application, which functions as a digital data platform that supports evidence-based policy-making. The second is the Kampung Siaga program, which facilitates community participation in monitoring and managing the local impacts of the pandemic. Despite fiscal and infrastructural constraints, these innovations strengthened Depok’s capacity for timely and effective pandemic control. The study also reveals skepticism among some residents regarding official government assistance. However, it demonstrates that adaptive, collaborative, and inclusive strategies are vital for rebuilding trust and reinforcing local governance. Cross-sector collaboration, including partnerships with academic institutions, together with broad citizen engagement, proved critical for sustainable pandemic adaptation. The integration of technology, grassroots participation, and institutional support not only improved crisis management but also provided valuable lessons for strengthening decentralization frameworks in future emergencies. Ultimately, this article offers a comprehensive analytical perspective on designing adaptive local policies for public health resilience and disaster mitigation.
Civil-military relations in Indonesia: promoting a professional military character from the new order era to the reform era
Civil-military relations in Indonesia have experienced ups and downs during several periods of government, namely since the old order, new order, and reform order eras. Military involvement in the political sphere during the new order government has sparked criticism of the professionalism of the Indonesian National Army, as it is considered to have been used as a tool to maintain power through repressive actions. This study uses qualitative methods with literature review techniques to analyze the state of civil-military relations in Indonesia from the new order era to the reform era in an effort to shape a reformist military character. Military control over civilians during the new order era was driven by the need to create political stability and security for the sake of development. However, after the new order era, Indonesia continued to make major changes in realizing a professional national army. In the reform era, the military was under civilian control, which did not allow active military personnel to enter the political and public bureaucratic areas.
Comparing digital public service innovation in urban and rural space: evidence from Indonesia public service innovation competition 2014-2023
This study examines the landscape of digital public service innovation in Indonesia, focusing on a comparison of developments in urban and rural local governments from 2014 to 2023. Using a comparative approach integrated with a systematic search strategy guided by the PRISMA flowchart, this study analyzed 990 documents from the Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform's innovation competition, with 170 documents meeting the inclusion criteria based on the title and description of digital public service innovations and the level of government for in-depth content analysis. Findings reveal distinct patterns in digital public service innovation. Local governments show a stronger emphasis on interactive rather than static services, enhancing user engagement, while district governments demonstrate a gradual but growing shift toward interactive solutions. External innovations outnumber internal ones, indicating a priority on citizen-oriented services, yet raising concerns about institutional digital capacity. Furthermore, independent innovation dominates over collaborative efforts, reflecting a lack of cross-sector collaboration in digital governance. This finding highlights the need for a balanced approach that integrates interactivity with accessibility, strengthens internal digital capacity, and encourages collaborative innovation. The study is limited by its reliance on secondary competition data, which may overlook informal initiatives, as well as interpretive bias in document-based categorization. It also does not analyze causal mechanisms such as leadership or bureaucratic culture, and its focus on Indonesia limits its generalizability. Future research should employ qualitative and cross-country comparative methods to deepen and broaden the findings.
Discourse analysis of online media on the haze disaster due to forest fires in Jambi, Indonesia
Forest fire–induced haze remains a recurring ecological crisis in Indonesia, yet limited attention has been given to how online media frame local government responses and shape public understanding of such disasters. This study aims to analyze the portrayal of the Jambi local government in online media coverage of the haze crisis, with a particular focus on crisis management narratives and the representation of key actors involved. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, this research employs NVivo 12 Plus to conduct a discourse-oriented analysis of news articles published by four major Indonesian online media outlets—Detiknews.com, Kompas.com, CNNIndonesia.com, and Liputan6.com. The findings reveal that the haze disaster in Jambi was predominantly framed through five key sectors: education, transportation, economy, environment, and health. Liputan6.com emphasized environmental and economic impacts, Kompas.com focused primarily on health-related issues, Detiknews.com highlighted educational disruptions, and CNNIndonesia.com concentrated on public health concerns. Across all platforms, the haze crisis was consistently framed as a provincial emergency caused by forest and land fires, with frequent emphasis on deteriorating air quality and the involvement of cross-sector actors in disaster response policies. This study contributes to media discourse analysis by demonstrating how sector-specific framing creates fragmented narratives that may influence public perception and policy prioritization in local disaster governance.
Early detection model to prevent the damaging impact of political buzzer attacks on social media
Using buzzers in product marketing is common and part of a marketing communication strategy. However, the use of buzzers has shifted to the political realm, causing negative impacts such as manipulating public opinion by spreading false information and propaganda. A number of countries have utilized buzzers for propaganda and public opinion manipulation purposes, such as Russia, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. This study aims to formulate an early detection model to prevent the damaging impacts of using political buzzers attacks on social media by referring to the AISAS (Attention, Interest, Search, Action, and Share) model. This study uses a qualitative approach with data characteristics in the form of words, images, or sentences and includes many quotes and examples. The study results show that political buzzers on social media can be controlled strategically. The core of this strategy is to disrupt the buzzers' work process and strengthen the community's digital literacy because the digital literacy program that has been conducted has proven to be ineffective. Through the early detection model in this study, this can be done by disrupting the work process of buzzers and strengthening digital society through digital literacy by referring to the AISAS model. In addition, it is necessary to strengthen regulations by tightening account registration rules and clarifying law enforcement for the use of buzzers attacks.
Negotiating power and tradition: local political elites and the pursuit of sustainable rural development in Gorontalo, Indonesia
Rural development in Indonesia after decentralization is influenced not only by formal state institutions but also by traditional authorities. This study aims to analyze how local political elites in Gorontalo negotiate power and legitimacy through interactions between elected officials and traditional leaders in rural development management. This research uses a qualitative approach with data collection techniques through in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and document analysis in three districts in Gorontalo. The findings show that political elites strategically utilize traditional rituals and kinship networks to consolidate power and garner community support, while traditional leaders maintain their influence by mediating access to state resources. These interactions create hybrid governance that both facilitates and constrains inclusive rural growth. Empirically, this study enriches rural sociology by describing how informal institutions remain embedded in local governance, while theoretically contributing to elite studies by linking symbolic authority to development outcomes. The study concludes that effective rural development policies require not only institutional reform but also critical engagement with cultural mechanisms of legitimacy. In line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), the integration of traditional leaders into rural development governance must be accompanied by a framework of accountability to ensure the equitable distribution of resources and the protection of marginalized groups.
The existence of bureaucratic network governance in optimizing the role of districts institution
This study aims to analyze the existence of bureaucratic network governance in optimizing the role of district institutions in Kumelembuai District, South Minahasa Regency. The change in the status of the sub-district as a regional apparatus, following Law Number 23 of 2014, has shifted the sub-district's functions toward greater coordination. However, the district remains an important node in the delivery of government services, public services, and community empowerment. This research uses a qualitative approach, employing case study methods that include observation, interviews, and documentation. The study's results show that limited authority, a lack of human resources, and weak coordination across sectors are the main obstacles to optimizing district institutions. However, there are local initiatives, such as the appointment of district staff as acting village heads, that demonstrate leadership potential and adaptability in the bureaucracy. This research emphasizes the importance of strengthening governance within the bureaucratic network through training, competency adjustments, and broader delegation of authority. These findings are expected to make a significant contribution to formulating policies that strengthen district institutional capacity in the era of regional autonomy.