Journal of Politics and Democracy

Improvement of Public Service Quality at the Public Service Mall of Luwu Regency

Bastian Bastian — 2025-09-30

This study aims to formulate strategies for improving the quality of public services at the Public Service Mall of Luwu Regency. The research employed a descriptive qualitative method, with data collected through interviews, observations, and documentation at the Investment and One-Stop Integrated Service Office, which is responsible for managing the Public Service Mall. The findings reveal that efforts to enhance public service quality are carried out through five main strategies: (1) a core strategy that emphasizes employee performance and the availability of infrastructure, (2) a consequence strategy focusing on accountability and transparency through e-government and community feedback, (3) a customer strategy to ensure excellent services that meet public expectations, (4) a monitoring strategy utilizing the Community Satisfaction Index as the basis for evaluation, and (5) a cultural strategy that aligns service values and ethics with the social context of the community. These findings underscore the importance of integrating performance, accountability, public satisfaction, and local culture to achieve more responsive and higher-quality public services.

Oil Palm Plasma Conflict and Clientelism Politics in Tanjung Labu Village, Lepar Island

Hosea Alfandi Irawan — 2025-09-30

This study examines the agrarian conflict in Tanjung Labu Village, Lepar Island, triggered by the oil palm company’s unfulfilled obligation to provide 20 percent of plantation land as plasma since 2001. What initially emerged as an agrarian justice issue has gradually shifted into a political instrument repeatedly mobilized in village head elections. Using a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews, observation, and document analysis. The findings reveal that the plasma issue has been systematically politicized as an electoral commodity. Village head candidates employ the promise of plasma to attract community support, yet once elected they tend to soften their stance and even accommodate corporate interests. This recurring pattern highlights the operation of clientelistic politics at the village level, where promises of land redistribution are reduced to symbolic capital without substantive realization. The agrarian politics framework explains the structural inequalities underlying the conflict, while clientelism theory and the concept of local elites elucidate how the plasma issue is mediated and reproduced within the logic of village politics. The study concludes that the plasma conflict in Tanjung Labu is not merely a symptom of failed agrarian policy but has been institutionalized as a political asset that stabilizes elite power while obstructing substantive conflict resolution.

Fidel Castro’s Leadership on Political Freedom in Cuba

Najla Dara Ayunda — 2025-09-30

Cuba is a country located in the Caribbean Islands that adheres to a socialist system in its country, this socialist system is believed to have succeeded in providing social security and equal distribution of education for the Cuban people. The 1959 Cuban Revolution led by Fidel Castro successfully adopted a socialist political system based on the principles of Marxism-Leninism, after which on January 1, 1959 marked the revolutionary movement led by Fidel Castro succeeded in overthrowing the dictatorial regime of Fulgencio Batista. The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of political freedom implemented by Fidel Castro in Cuba. This research uses a secondary research approach by collecting data from relevant sources, such as books, journals, articles, and reliable sources. The results of this study show that Fidel Castro's leadership was instrumental in creating political conditions and political ethos in Cuba, Castro's distinctive rhetoric and ability to mobilize the people made it possible to uphold the ideology of socialism and implement it. However, this leadership was associated with the weakening of the political opposition and the lack of control over the media.

Political Capital and Electoral Strategy of Terri Genta Sansui Siregar in the 2024 DPRD Election of North Tapanuli Regency

Desy Dwi Wulan A Tampubolon — 2025-09-30

Political capital is a collection of social, symbolic, and relational resources that enable an individual to participate in and influence political processes. This study analyzes the political capital and electoral strategies employed by Terri Genta Sansui Siregar, a young candidate who was successfully elected as a member of the North Tapanuli Regency DPRD in the 2024 elections. Using qualitative research methods, data was collected through observation, interviews, and documentation. The results of the study show that Terri Genta's victory was based on three main elements of her political capital: trust, political legacy, and field activities. Trust was built through a personal approach, dialogue, and direct interaction with the community, including the younger generation. The political legacy of her parents, who had served as members of the DPRD, provided significant advantages in terms of networks and legitimacy. Meanwhile, consistent field activities, such as door-to-door visits and social assistance, strengthened her closeness to constituents. The electoral strategy used included communication and branding, a direct approach, understanding of the terrain, and the utilization of social capital. This victory shows that a combination of strong political capital and relevant campaign strategies is key to gaining public support, especially in local political contests.

Policy Analysis of the Indonesian Government on Gender Inequality in the Workplace

Zahrin Nasiah — 2025-09-30

Gender inequality in the Indonesian workplace is a critical and persistent issue despite the existence of various policy frameworks designed to address it. This study aims to critically analyze the effectiveness of Indonesian government policies in reducing gender inequality in the workplace and to identify the key factors contributing to the gap between regulation on paper and implementation on the ground. Using a qualitative approach with a literature study method, this research synthesizes and analyzes secondary data from government policy documents, laws and regulations, academic journals, and credible reports from national and international institutions. The findings reveal a significant paradox: on one hand, a robust and normative policy architecture is in place, yet on the other, empirical data indicates stagnant inequality, such as low female labor force participation rates (LFPR), a significant gender pay gap, and minimal representation of women in leadership positions. In-depth analysis concludes that this policy failure is caused by a combination of four main factors: (1) weak law enforcement and oversight, which renders policies symbolic; (2) 'gender-blind' policy design that ignores the reality of the double burden borne by women; (3) the hegemony of patriarchal socio-cultural norms that undermine the effectiveness of formal laws; and (4) policy fragmentation and weak synergy among government agencies. This research asserts that the problem lies not in the absence of laws, but in a systemic failure of implementation.