Abstract
The aim of this study is to examine the dynamics of nepotism within the democratic system of Indonesia. Through secondary research drawn from various scholarly sources, it has been found that the practice of nepotism remains deeply entrenched within the layers of contemporary political and governmental aspects. Nepotism, having become a cultural norm, poses a formidable challenge due to the various risks it entails. Issues such as corruption and the erosion of public trust resulting from weak governmental oversight are attributed to the persistent erosion of the democratic system by nepotism. The emergence of the term "Dynastic Politics" during President Jokowi's era has also sparked controversy, further seasoning the practice of nepotism in Indonesia.
Nepotism and Its Forms
Personal interests rooted in conflicts of interest are regarded as nepotism. Nepotism emerges as a hidden threat in public decision-making due to the presence of personal interests leading to conflicts. Providing actual benefits to family members within the same organization also constitutes a form of nepotism. A hallmark representing nepotism is the presence of family members within the same organization (Tytko et al., 2020). According to Padgett & Morris (2005), nepotism takes two forms: hereditary nepotism and matrimonial nepotism. Hereditary nepotism is referred to as intergenerational nepotism and involves the appointment of family members and relatives to political positions. Meanwhile, matrimonial nepotism, also known as marital nepotism, refers to the appointment of one spouse to perform the same job when the other spouse is already employed in the same field. Regarding its scope, according to Gjinovci & Gjinovci (2017), nepotism occurs in various fields including political nepotism, familial nepotism, organizational nepotism, and employment-related nepotism.
Problem Statement
The act of nepotism is considered perilous, particularly in the appointment of government officials, as the potential for corruption and abuse of authority is significantly heightened. Moreover, nepotism is seen as the precursor to the abuse of power for personal gain, leading to an increased likelihood of engaging in corruption (Siegert A, 2008). This personal gain refers to favoring genetic relatives over non-family members, regardless of their professional background and achievements. In some countries adhering to non-democratic systems, nepotism is prevalent due to the concentration of power within individuals or small groups. How does this phenomenon manifest in countries like Indonesia, which adhere to a democratic system?
Observing Nepotism During The Reformasi Era
As a democratic state, Indonesia has legal and political tools to restrict or even eradicate nepotism. However, the prevailing reality indicates that nepotism has become a deeply rooted cultural norm permeating every stratum of society. The proliferation of nepotism, coupled with corruption and collusion in Indonesia, emerged during the authoritarian the New Order (Orde Baru) regime (Ismansyah & Sulistyo, 2010). Following the end of the New Order era, it became evident that the practices of nepotism, corruption, and collusion had become entrenched traditions in Indonesia, marked by low levels of good governance quality. Huther and Shah (1998) compared governance quality in 80 countries using a composite index of citizen participation, government orientation, social development, and economic management. Table 2 of the World Bank report gives the following scores for five Southeast Asian countries. Higher scores indicate better governance under that index’s construction. These historical observations neither describe current governance nor establish that nepotism caused the differences.
| Country | Governance quality index, Huther and Shah (1998) |
|---|---|
| Singapore | 65 |
| Malaysia | 58 |
| Philippines | 44 |
| Thailand | 43 |
| Indonesia | 38 |
The Reformasi period in Indonesia is counted from the resignation of Soeharto on May 21, 1998, until the present day. Consequently, the Reformasi era has lasted for over two decades, encompassing the leadership tenures of various presidents, including President B.J. Habibie, President Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur), President Megawati Soekarnoputri, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), and others. The multidimensional crisis that occurred in 1997 led to societal demands for reform across all layers of society, including politics, economics, law, and bureaucracy (Primanto et al., 2014). Nepotism, which is also a legacy of the New Order regime, continues to be scrutinized for its existence. Nepotism remains one of the leading causes of rampant corruption offenses to this day. Its tangible presence is felt in both the public and private sectors across various regions, particularly in the placement of individuals in important positions, often resulting in the abuse of power, especially concerning the management of state finances (Ismansyah & Sulistyo, 2010).
In 1998, the New Order (Orde Baru) era came to an end, ushering in the Reformasi period under the leadership of B.J. Habibie as the President of the Republic of Indonesia at that time. Efforts to eradicate the practice of nepotism were made during this period through the issuance of Regulation No. XI/MPR/1998 concerning the implementation of clean governance free from Corruption, Collusion, and Nepotism (Primanto et al., 2014). The Reformasi era, characterized as a transitional period, helped oversee the government's efforts to eradicate the practice of nepotism. The dynamics of combating nepotism were marked by challenging journeys, evidenced by the change from the previous MPR decree, TAP MPR 11/1998, to TAP MPR 8/2001 (Martiningsih, 2017).
Fertilizing the Resurgence of Nepotism Through Dynastic Politics in Indonesia
Does nepotism, which has been a controversy since the old order, still have a presence in the era of President Jokowi's reform? Referring to research (Aziz & Wahid, 2021) (Asrawijaya, 2022) and (Nika, 2021), which discusses the analysis of the coverage of Jokowi's dynastic politics, it was found that the issue of dynastic politics during President Jokowi's era began with the Regional Head Elections (Pilkada) in 2020. This election garnered significant attention due to the emergence of candidates from the family of the President of the Republic of Indonesia at that time, Ir. Joko Widodo. Jokowi's son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, ran for mayor in Solo, while Jokowi's son-in-law, Bobby Nasution, ran for mayor in Medan. Their candidacies have drawn pros and cons, stating that their actions are considered immoral and do not show justice in the political arena in Indonesia. In addition, Gibran's experience in politics is still relatively early, raising questions regarding what is the main factor for Gibran's high electability to achieve his victory in the 2020 Pilkada (Syanur et al., 2023). The victory of both candidates resulted in the family of President Jokowi joining the political dynasty in Indonesia.
The emergence of Gibran Rakabuming Raka as a vice presidential candidate to accompany Prabowo Subianto is one example of dynastic politics in Indonesia (Aulia et al., 2023). Aulia et al. (2023) describe Gibran's candidacy alongside Prabowo Subianto as a form of dynastic politics with a "family gathering" pattern. Political dynasties first appeared in monarchies. They have also existed for a long time in democratic countries. The concept of dynasties refers to the political power wielded by a group of individuals who are bound by kinship or familial ties with the aim of obtaining, maintaining, and perpetuating power (Aulia et al., 2023). The next question is whether the phenomenon of Gibran Rakabuming Raka's rise as mayor in 2020 and vice-presidential candidate in 2024, as well as Bobby Nasution as mayor of Medan, is a form of dynastic politics. As quoted from a political observer and consultant, Eep Saefullah Fatah, in a healthy democracy, there must be three stages of the political process:
- Selection, wherein a meritocratic system provides opportunities to individuals based on their competencies.
- Election, which is the formal process of determining leaders and the acceptance or rejection of political propositions through voting.
- Delivery, where elected officials must act in the public interest. Personal and family interests must not guide official decisions.
Constitutional Court Decision No. 90/PUU-XXI/2023 of 16 October 2023 interpreted Article 169(q) of the Election Law to allow an alternative to the minimum age of 40 for a person who had held or was holding an elected office, including regional office. Gibran’s experience as Mayor of Surakarta met that alternative. This was a constitutional interpretation by a judicial panel, not a statutory amendment made by Anwar Usman alone (Constitutional Court, 2023).
Aulia et al. (2023) and Syanur et al. (2023) analyze the nomination through the concept of political dynasty. They question equality of opportunity in selection and discuss how Jokowi’s political support affected Gibran’s prospects. An assessment of familial political advantage is distinct from a legal finding of abuse of power. Judicial disagreement does not by itself establish political interference.
On 7 November 2023, the Constitutional Court’s Ethics Council found that Anwar Usman had breached judicial ethics in handling the case and removed him as chief justice. Zulqarnain et al. (2023), Bintang et al. (2023), Ulum and Sukarno (2023), and Suzeeta and Lewoleba (2023) discuss the ethical and procedural concerns. The ethics finding, the validity of the constitutional judgment, and an assessment of political dynasty require separate analysis.
Further Examining Assumptions related to Dynastic Politics
Based on several studies that reveal the dynastic politics by President Jokowi, it states that dynastic politics is the same as the practice of nepotism which has the effect of abuse of power, laziness, non-transparency, indecisiveness, poor quality of competence, violation of rules, broken promises. Dynastic politics has an impact on negative things such as corruption, collusion, nepotism, undermining democracy, destroying order in government institutions and society (Suryono et al., 2018). Added from research (Aulia et al., 2023), dynastic politics provides pros and cons in its implementation. Dynastic politics is considered to provide stability and continuity in leadership because the presence of family members in the political system provides flexibility to coordinate. However, the cons assume that dynastic politics can increase the risk of corruption, collusion and nepotism practices. The existence of dynastic politics can cause damage to democracy, especially since Indonesia is a democratic country. This can lead to weak control over power.
Why Nepotism Threatens Democracy
Nepotism in politics and government is a serious issue. Personal interests in public decisions must continue to be removed for the sake of people's trust in their leaders. Nepotism, which has been trying to be eliminated since the collapse of the New Order, has again undermined the integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. Signs of nepotism appear at the national level and in regional elections. The damage includes material losses from possible corruption, misuse of authority, and rule violations. Nepotism can also weaken democracy as Indonesia's system of government.