Decentralization, Democracy and Local Politics in Indonesia

This multidisciplinary volume provides new insights into decentralization reform in Indonesia, and examines how it has reshaped the structure of local governance and democratic practices in the country, as well as exploring the challenges and dynamics that have surfaced in Indonesia's decentralized governance landscape.

Decentralization has been in place in Indonesia for a quarter of a century, resulting in various structural changes, including the territorial autonomy (TA) and regional proliferation (or “pemekaran”). This book examines the effectiveness of long-term decentralization measures as a legacy of centralist politics by offering new data on local democracy and administration, complemented by in-depth qualitative case studies that reflect the state of contemporary, local politics in Indonesia. The book examines the evolving challenges and emerging dynamics that have surfaced in Indonesia's decentralized governance landscape, including how new-province and district claims increase and how competition among diverse elites in regions pursuing a new province or district often precipitates conflict within the region.

Engaging wider academic networks looking to understand the mechanisms of decentralization inside post-centralistic authoritarian regimes, this book will be of interest to academics studying Indonesian politics and Southeast Asian politics, as well as identity and ethnic politics. Specialists focused on decentralization will also find the volume of use.

Testriono is Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII), Depok, Indonesia. He earned his PhD in Political Science from Northern Illinois University. His research lies at the intersection of comparative politics and public policy, with a focus on democracy and subnational politics. A 2017 Hybl Fellow at the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), Virginia, he serves as a Senior Researcher at the Center for the Study of Islam and Society (Pusat Pengkajian Islam dan Masyarakat or PPIM) UIN Jakarta and a Senior Researcher at Populi Center. He is also an Inaugural Lentera Studi Fellow at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS), Kyoto University, in 2026. His writings have been published in, among others, Governance and Contemporary Southeast Asia.

Ratri Istania is Associate Professor and Secretary of the Department of Public Administration of National Institute of Public Administration School of Administration (NIPA) Jakarta, Indonesia (Politeknik STIA LAN). She is also the Inaugural Indonesia Fellow at Cornell University's Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy, a Senior Fellow at IFAR/IPP UNIKA Atma Jaya, and a Senior Researcher at Populi Center. She earned her master’s degree in political science from Ohio University in 2006 and her doctorate in Political Science from Loyola University Chicago in 2019. She focuses on decentralization, local politics, and governance practices in Indonesia and other developing democracies, while also studying territorial autonomy, power sharing, and conflict.

Shanti Darmastuti is Assistant Professor at the International Relations Study Program, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran Jakarta. She completed her doctorate in International Relations at Universitas Padjadjaran in 2021. Her research interests include international political economy studies and development studies.