The politicization of public policy in Indonesia: A Global South perspective

Abstract

This study examines the systemic politicization of public policy in Indonesia, rooted in its historical, political, and sociocultural contexts. Adopting a Global South perspective, it challenges Northern-centric frameworks by showing how political elites strategically set agendas to consolidate power, while bureaucrats respond through adaptive strategies prioritizing visibility over substantive service delivery. Analysis of official documents from Indonesia’s Supreme Audit Agency, Corruption Eradication Commission, Ombudsman (2023–2025), and Ministry of Administrative Reform (LAKIP 2022–2024) reveals systematic decoupling: performance metrics indicate progress, yet independent assessments show persistently medium service quality at 74.64 percent. Donor influence fosters isomorphic mimicry, with 43 percent of foreign-funded e-government platforms inactive. The study develops a five-dimensional framework, elite agenda-setting, bureaucratic adaptation, donor-induced isomorphism, symbolic compliance, and digital governance paradox, capturing their self-reinforcing interaction. This framework offers an analytical tool for understanding governance in Indonesia and comparable Global South contexts.