Journal of Politics and Democracy

Political Consolidation Failure and Programmatic Politics: Explaining Har–Guntur’s Electoral Defeat in the 2024 Jambi City Election

2025-11-05T14:30:27+07:00

This study aims to explain the electoral defeat of the Har–Guntur pair in the 2024 Jambi City local election by emphasizing the interaction between internal candidate weaknesses and the strategic advantages of their opponents. Departing from the phenomenon of high political visibility that was not fully matched by electoral participation, as well as the limited availability of candidate alternatives, this research employs a qualitative approach through the analysis of survey data, media coverage, and campaign dynamics. The findings reveal that the defeat of Har–Guntur was not caused by a single factor, but rather by an accumulation of weaknesses, including poor consolidation of the campaign team, suboptimal performance of the supporting party machinery, and political communication strategies that failed to resonate with voters’ needs. In contrast, the Maulana–Diza pair effectively leveraged their strategic advantages by offering concrete programs, strengthening a people-oriented personal image, and utilizing communication channels more effectively. A significant gap in electability had already emerged prior to election day, indicating a systematically constructed political dominance. These findings underline that in the context of local politics, electoral victory is not solely determined by structural party support, but also by a candidate’s ability to integrate political consolidation, effective communication, and relevant programmatic offerings. This study contributes to the literature on voter behavior and local electoral competition by demonstrating that electoral defeat is the result of a complex interaction of multiple reinforcing factors.

Community Movements in Environmental Issues: A Study of Greenpeace as an Environmental Movement

2026-03-19T23:17:55+07:00

Abstract. This article will examine how Greenpeace Indonesia continues to organize community movements related to environmental issues. As an organization, Greenpeace ultimately carries out movements with members from the wider community and often vis-à-vis with many countries and companies for their environmental campaigns. This article uses the framework of environmentalism to examine the movements carried out by Greenpeace. Meanwhile, this article uses a qualitative method with a descriptive approach. The results in this article show that Greenpeace's actions and campaigns are motivated by injustice, how Greenpeace confronts several companies that cause environmental damage, which means endangering human life in the future.

Evaluation of Public Policy in Mitigating the Social Crisis of Annual Flooding: A Case Study of West Kutai Regency in 2024

2026-03-19T23:24:35+07:00

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of public policy in mitigating the social crisis caused by annual flooding in West Kutai Regency in 2024. The study employs a qualitative approach using a case study design. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observation, and document analysis involving local government officials, community leaders, and affected residents. The data were analyzed using a descriptive-interpretative approach to examine the gap between policy design and its implementation. The findings indicate that policy effectiveness remains suboptimal. Although the initial emergency response was relatively rapid, the policy failed to fulfill key dimensions of effectiveness, responsiveness, and adequacy. The main issues include weak inter-agency coordination, inappropriate physical programs that neglect local knowledge, low transparency in aid distribution, and limited attention to the social and psychological dimensions of affected communities. Furthermore, community participation in policy planning remains largely symbolic, resulting in policies that are less contextual and less responsive to local needs. This study highlights that disaster mitigation challenges are not merely technical issues but also reflect weaknesses in governance, particularly in integrating institutional, social, and participatory dimensions. Therefore, improving policy effectiveness requires a more integrated, participatory, and long-term recovery-oriented approach to reduce social vulnerability in disaster-prone areas.

New Social Movements in the City of Santri An Analysis of the Almumtaz Movement’s Perspective on the Ruang Bermusik 2025 Controversy

2026-03-19T23:21:13+07:00

This study examines the dynamics of the Almumtaz religious social movement in the controversy surrounding the cancellation of several performers in the Ruang Bermusik 2025 concert in Tasikmalaya. It focuses on how Almumtaz operates as a social movement actor and how the “City of Santri” identity is constructed, maintained, and negotiated within the contemporary public sphere. This research employs a qualitative approach with a case study design, utilizing in-depth interviews, non-participant observation, and document analysis. The analytical framework draws on Sidney Tarrow’s social movement theory and Porta and Diani’s concept of collective identity. The findings reveal that Almumtaz mobilizes collective action rooted in religious values to challenge forms of popular culture perceived as inconsistent with local religious norms. The “City of Santri” identity functions not only as a cultural symbol but also as a political instrument institutionalized through local regulations to regulate public space. Furthermore, Almumtaz constructs a dynamic collective identity by transforming historical narratives of Islamic boarding schools and religious authorities into a source of social solidarity. This study highlights that local religious movements possess significant capacity to influence policy, shape the boundaries of cultural expression, and reproduce identity politics in the context of contemporary social change.

Substituted Liability of Regional Governments from the Perspective of Unlawful Government Acts

2026-03-19T23:14:28+07:00

This study aims to analyze the legal position of the DKI Jakarta Regional Government and to construct the juridical basis of substituted liability in unlawful act (tort) disputes arising from the Jakarta LRT Phase 1B project in Rawamangun. The research employs a normative legal method with statutory, conceptual, and case approaches to examine the relationship between the regional government and regional-owned enterprises (BUMD) as project implementers. The findings indicate that although direct liability formally rests with the BUMD, the regional government cannot be entirely absolved of legal responsibility, as the project constitutes a manifestation of public policy financed through the regional budget (APBD). Non-physical losses experienced by the community may be qualified as onrechtmatige overheidsdaad (unlawful government act), particularly when such losses stem from policy negligence or failure in impact mitigation. In such circumstances, liability may be attributed to the regional government through the concept of substituted liability (vicarious liability), especially when the BUMD is unable to fulfill compensation obligations. Furthermore, the study finds that litigation-based dispute resolution mechanisms are ineffective and inconsistent with the principles of good governance. Therefore, this study recommends strengthening non-litigation mechanisms through the establishment of an Independent Mediation Committee and the provision of a risk reserve fund as an operational form of substituted liability. This model is expected to ensure a faster, more transparent, and equitable dispute resolution process for affected communities.