{"id":12827,"date":"2026-08-03T16:46:16","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T09:46:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/puskapol.fisip.ui.ac.id\/uncategorized\/personalist-politics-pave-the-way-for-indonesias-authoritarian-revival\/"},"modified":"2026-09-10T16:00:26","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T09:00:26","slug":"personalist-politics-pave-the-way-for-indonesias-authoritarian-revival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/puskapol.fisip.ui.ac.id\/en\/publications\/article\/personalist-politics-pave-the-way-for-indonesias-authoritarian-revival\/","title":{"rendered":"Personalistic Politics Paves the Way for the Rise of Authoritarianism in Indonesia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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July 31, 2026<\/strong> \u2014 Hurriyah<\/strong>, Director of the Center for Political Studies (PUSKAPOL) at the University of Indonesia, and Revo Linggar Vandito<\/strong>, a researcher at PUSKAPOL UI, published an article<\/strong> in the East Asia Forum<\/em><\/strong> entitled \u201cPersonalist Politics Pave the Way for Indonesia\u2019s Authoritarian Revival.\u201d<\/strong> This article discusses developments in Indonesian politics in recent years and the strengthening of personalistic political patterns that are considered to open up space for the decline of democracy and the resurgence of authoritarian practices.<\/p>\n\n

In the article, Hurriyah and Revo highlight how the concentration of power in political figures and the growing power of personal figures within political parties can impact democratic institutions. Political parties that are increasingly centered on individuals risk weakening the role of institutions, checks and balances, and the space for actors outside the circle of power to participate meaningfully. <\/p>\n\n

This situation becomes increasingly important to address when democratic institutions, such as political parties, no longer have sufficient capacity to limit or monitor the use of power. When political and state institutions increasingly rely on the personal interests and networks of individual leaders, the democratic process can remain procedurally viable but lose substance in terms of accountability, political competition, and the protection of civil liberties. <\/p>\n\n

Hurriyah and Revo also emphasized that democratic decline does not always occur through sudden systemic changes. The weakening of democracy can occur gradually through institutional changes, the consolidation of power, and the normalization of increasingly personalistic political practices. Therefore, the existence of independent democratic institutions and effective oversight mechanisms is crucial to prevent excessive concentration of power. <\/p>\n\n

This article also places Indonesian political developments within a broader context, particularly how the post-Reformasi legacy of democratization faces new challenges. The strengthening of personalistic politics demonstrates that the success of democracy depends not only on the existence of elections, but also on the ability of institutions to maintain limits on power and ensure political competition and accountability. <\/p>\n\n

Through this publication, Hurriyah and Revo contribute to enriching discussions on the state of Indonesian democracy and the importance of maintaining democratic institutions so they can continue to perform their oversight functions and limit power. This study also serves as part of PUSKAPOL’s contribution to providing a research-based perspective on political and democratic developments in Indonesia. <\/p>\n\n

For readers who wish to learn more about this discussion, the full article \u201cPersonalist Politics Pave the Way for Indonesia\u2019s Authoritarian Revival\u201d <\/a>can be read through the East Asia Forum.<\/em><\/p>\n\n