Designing Institutional Framework for Political Parties in Indonesia: Democratic Analysis and Party Autonomy

Main Article Content

M. Reza Saputra
Taufiqurrohman Syahuri
Ahmad Ahsin Thohari

Abstract

This study examines the institutional design of political parties in Indonesia post-Reformation, which is hindered by state intervention through mandatory legal entity status under Law Number 2 of 2011. Utilizing normative legal research and comparative legal analysis with Germany, Sweden, and the UK, this study analyzes how the administrative authority of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights is frequently misused to intervene in internal party disputes, thereby undermining party autonomy. Findings indicate that the current legal entity regime functions as an instrument of executive political control rather than neutral administration, contradicting the principle of legal certainty. This research recommends a five-pillar institutional model, including: separating legal entity status from electoral participation requirements, establishing the General Elections Commission (KPU) as the sole neutral entry point for registration, transferring dispute resolution to independent courts, internal democratization via term limits, and strengthening financial transparency. These reforms aim to restore party independence as an accountable democratic pillar, free from oligarchy and state manipulation.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Article Details

Section

Articles

How to Cite

[1]
M. R. Saputra, Taufiqurrohman Syahuri, and Ahmad Ahsin Thohari, “Designing Institutional Framework for Political Parties in Indonesia: Democratic Analysis and Party Autonomy”, Journal of State Democracy, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 1–18, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.65101/jsd.v1i2.180.

References

Aminuddin, M. Faishal, and M. Fajar Shodiq Ramadlan. “Electoral System and Party Survival: The Case of Indonesian Democracy 1999-2019.” Jurnal Politik 8, no. 1 (March 25, 2022): 1–26. https://doi.org/10.7454/jp.v8i1.1105.

Angenendt, Michael, and Simon D. Brause. “The Long Way towards Polarized Pluralism.” In Political Parties and the Crisis of Democracy, 82–107. Oxford University PressOxford, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198888734.003.0005.

Bolleyer, Nicole. “The Voluntarist Path towards a Permissive Legal Environment for Organized Civil Society.” In The State and Civil Society, 233–51. Oxford University Press, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198758587.003.0008.

Brause, Simon D., and Thomas Poguntke. “Measuring Intra-Party Democracy on a Global Scale.” Party Politics, March 13, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1177/13540688251323756.

Cahyawati, Dwi Putri, Zainal Arifin Hoesein, and Eka Widadi. “Implikasi Keberadaan Fraksi Partai Politik Dalam Kelembagaan DPR.” Al-Qisth Law Review 5, no. 1 (August 28, 2021): 44. https://doi.org/10.24853/al-qisth.5.1.44-69.

Copus, Colin, and Gissur Ó. Erlingsson. “Formal Institutions versus Informal Decision-Making.” Scandinavian Journal of Public Administration 17, no. 1 (March 15, 2013): 51–69. https://doi.org/10.58235/sjpa.v17i1.16150.

Dina Safira, Aulia. “Implikasi Status Hukum Partai Politik Sebagai Badan Hukum Dalam Sistem Hukum Indonesia.” Universitas Islam Indonesia, 2022. https://dspace.uii.ac.id/bitstream/handle/123456789/39163/18912007.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y.

Hartati, Hartati, Zarkasi Zarkasi, Syamsir Syamsir, Firmansyah Putra, Dimas Subekti, and Zainal Amin Ayub. “Legal Aspects of Political Party Internal Conflict Resolution: A Case Study in Indonesia.” Al-Risalah: Forum Kajian Hukum Dan Sosial Kemasyarakatan 25, no. 1 (June 19, 2025): 53–69. https://doi.org/10.30631/alrisalah.v25i1.1842.

Indrawan, Jerry, Putrawan Yuliandri, and Hartanto. “Oligarchy and Dynastic Politics in Indonesia.” Indonesian Governance Journal (IGJ): Kajian Politik - Pemerintahan 8, no. 1 (2025): 28–42. https://doi.org/10.24905/igj.v8i1.138.

Kristiyanto, Hasto, Satya Arinanto, and Hanief Saha Ghafur. “Institutionalization and Party Resilience in Indonesian Electoral Democracy.” Heliyon 9, no. 12 (December 2023): e22919. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22919.

Leininger, Arndt, and Maurits J Meijers. “Do Populist Parties Increase Voter Turnout? Evidence From Over 40 Years of Electoral History in 31 European Democracies.” Political Studies 69, no. 3 (August 17, 2021): 665–85. https://doi.org/10.1177/0032321720923257.

Mamonto, Moch Andry Wikra Wardhana, Mohd Shahril Nizam Bin Md Radzi, Andi Pangerang Moenta, Aminuddin Ilmar, and Marwati Riza. “Promoting the Principle of Political Equality: Reformulation of Private Funding Source Regulations for Indonesian Political Parties.” Journal of Law and Legal Reform 5, no. 3 (October 31, 2024): 1067–1128. https://doi.org/10.15294/jllr.v5i3.14457.

Michels, Robert. “The Iron Law of Oligarchy.” In Power in Modern Societies, 111–24. Routledge, 2019. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429302824-13.

Miles, Matthew B, and A. Michael Huberman. “Drawing Valid Meaning from Qualitative Data: Toward a Shared Craft.” Educational Researcher 13, no. 5 (May 1, 1984): 20–30. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X013005020.

Randall, Vicky, and Lars Svåsand. “Party Institutionalization in New Democracies.” Party Politics 8, no. 1 (January 1, 2002): 5–29. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354068802008001001.

Riqiey, Baharuddin, Adella Anggia Pramesti, and Alif Cahya Sakti. “Pembatasan Masa Jabatan Ketua Umum Parpol Dalam Perspektif Demokrasi.” Jurnal Mengkaji Indonesia 1, no. 1 (June 29, 2022): 1–17. https://doi.org/10.59066/jmi.v1i1.46.

Saputra, M. Reza, Wicipto Setiadi, and Ahmad Ahsin Thohari. “Analisis Potensi Implementasi Sistem Politik Tanpa Partai Di Indonesia Dan Dampaknya Terhadap Demokrasi Dan Tata Kelola Pemerintahan.” Eksekusi : Jurnal Ilmu Hukum Dan Administrasi Negara 2, no. 4 (October 11, 2024): 204–22. https://doi.org/10.55606/eksekusi.v2i4.1531.

Sklar, Richard L., and Samuel P. Huntington. “Political Order in Changing Societies.” American Sociological Review 34, no. 4 (August 1969): 571. https://doi.org/10.2307/2091978.

Soekanto, Soerjono, and Sri Mahmudji. Penelitian Hukum Normatif, Suatu Tinjauan Singkat. Jakarta: Raja Grafindo Persada, 2003.

Soemitro, Ronny Hanitijo. Metode Penelitian Hukum, Metodologi Penelitian Ilmu Sosial, (Dengan Orientasi Penelitian Bidang Hukum). Pelatihan Metodologi Ilmu Sosial, Bagian Hukum dan Masyarakat FH Undip, 1999.

Tomsa, Dirk. “Party System Fragmentation in Indonesia: The Subnational Dimension.” Journal of East Asian Studies 14, no. 2 (August 21, 2014): 249–78. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1598240800008924.