Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, is experiencing democratic backsliding, with rising costs and limited political mobility restricting access to power. The national parliament of Indonesia has played a role in consolidating autocratic legalism, favoring elite interests over broader democratic representation. As a stark indicator of how limited political mobility is, less than 2% of recently elected MPs are non-incumbents and lacking familial ties with party elites or local leaders.
The cost of politics report examines the financial and structural barriers to political participation in Indonesia and how they disproportionately impact women and youth.
The financial burden of campaigning in Indonesia is staggering. As author Ella Syafputri Prihatini notes, “it will take an average Indonesian to work without spending for 140 years to be able to pay legislative campaign spending”. This places public office firmly out of reach for those without substantial financial backing, further entrenching the political elites. Campaign spending disproportionately benefits wealthy, well-connected politicians while exacerbating barriers for women and young candidates.
The author further adds that barriers like “the open-list proportional representation system, which prioritises name recognition over ideology, weak and inconsistent enforcement of regulations by the electoral authorities, and the acceptance of vote-buying” significantly increases political costs.
The study shows that dynastic politics continue to shape Indonesia’s electoral landscape, with dynastic politicians receiving 30% more votes than independent young MPs. Well-connected youth and women benefit from these policies, but it limits aspiring politicians. Unless these structural challenges are addressed, Indonesia risks further entrenching autocratic legalism and restricting access to political office for future generations.
This study is supported by the WYDE Civic Engagement project, which aims to empower youth in democratic processes. Through this research, the Cost of Politics reports unlock the unique processes of electoral participation and their impact on democracy in different countries.
