What the study found
The study found that village heads in Indonesia used government assistance to perpetuate their power during the Reform era. The abstract says this assistance helped maintain loyalty, influence voting choices, and made village heads an important electoral asset for political elites.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that the findings changed the landscape of patronage, which is a system of political support based on favors and resources, from lower-level politics to higher-level electoral politics in Indonesia. They also say the study changed political behavior and electoral perception.
What the researchers tested
The researchers used library research, intensive field observations, and in-depth interviews. Their fieldwork was conducted in Subang Regency, West Java, to explore the role of village heads during Indonesia's Reform era and how they tried to keep power.
What worked and what didn't
The abstract reports three main findings: village heads used government aid to maintain loyalty and influence voting, and they became valuable to political elites at the district and central levels. It also says some village heads continued to receive government support through their political networks even when they did not support a particular elected regent candidate.
What to keep in mind
The summary describes one case study area, Subang Regency in West Java, so the abstract does not show whether the same pattern applied everywhere in Indonesia. The abstract also does not provide detailed evidence, sample size, or specific limitations.
Key points
- Village heads used government assistance to perpetuate power.
- Government assistance was used to maintain loyalty and influence voting choices.
- Village heads became an electoral asset for political elites at district and central levels.
- Some village heads still received government support through political networks even without backing a specific regent candidate.
- The authors say the findings shifted patronage from lower-level to higher-level electoral politics in Indonesia.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Village heads used government aid to sustain political power
- Authors:
- Leo Agustino, M. Dian Hikmawan
- Institutions:
- Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa University, The University of Sydney
- Publication date:
- 2026-03-09
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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