Identity, Political Culture, and Democracy Naivety in Indonesia

Abstract

Since the transition of Indonesia from the authoritarian New Order era to the more democratic Reformation Order in 1998, significant changes have occurred in leadership recruitment at the national and regional levels. There have also been substantial transition in the pattern of voter mobilization, specifically the increasing prevalence of identity politics. This study showed that each region had a different approach to incorporating identity in electoral politics. Even with the Indonesian multicultural nature and a diversity of identities, every region has unique political cultures, and acknowledges the significance of identity-related issues for achieving electoral success. Also, there was a tendency for inconsistent and double-standard positioning of identities, which biased the stance on identity and lacked neutrality. Moreover, Indonesian democracy was still perceived as naive, with identities remaining a primary electoral tool.