@article {Power:2018:0007-4918:307,
title = "Jokowis Authoritarian Turn and Indonesias Democratic Decline",
journal = "Bulletin of Indonesian Economic Studies",
parent_itemid = "infobike://routledg/cbie",
publishercode ="routledg",
year = "2018",
volume = "54",
number = "3",
publication date ="2018-09-02T00:00:00",
pages = "307-338",
itemtype = "ARTICLE",
issn = "0007-4918",
eissn = "1472-7234",
url = "https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/routledg/cbie/2018/00000054/00000003/art00002",
doi = "doi:10.1080/00074918.2018.1549918",
keyword = "democratic regression, corruption, D73, authoritarianism, political Islam, elections, D72, presidentialism, K42",
author = "Power, Thomas P.",
abstract = "This article examines the decline of Indonesias democratic institutions under President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) ahead of his 2019 re-election bid. It argues that the latter part of Jokowis first term has seen a downturn in the quality of Indonesian democracy, associated with
the continued mainstreaming and legitimation of a conservative and anti-pluralistic brand of political Islam; the partisan manipulation of key institutions of state; and the increasingly open repression and disempowerment of political opposition. These trends have served to unbalance the democratic
playing field, limit democratic choice, and reduce government accountability. This article first discusses the medium-term ramifications of the polarised 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election and their implications for 2018s marquee political events: a major round of sub-national elections
and the presidential nomination process. It then argues that the Jokowi government has taken an authoritarian turn ahead of the 2019 elections, highlighting its manipulation of powerful law enforcement and security institutions for narrow, partisan purposes, as well as the administrations
concerted efforts to undermine and repress democratic opposition. Finally, it frames the 2019 election as a contest between two candidatesJokowi and Prabowo Subiantowho display little regard for the democratic status quo. The declining quality of Indonesian democracy is particularly
troubling in a global context of democratic recession.",
}