The Politics of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Post-Reformation 1998
Abstract: After the
reformation (reformasi) in 1998, some civil society organizations (CSOs) have
endorsed policy changes from outside the government and have involved in many
ministries’ ssistance team to implement government’s development programs.
These CSOs’ political action changes from outside to become inside the
government are caused by the openness of political opportunity from political
regime after Reformasi. Even though CSOs have used these political
opportunities, these organizations faced seriously challenges in political
field such as the fragmented of CSOs to endorse many policy reform and changes.
In addition, there is lack of supporting changes in political culture
structures which are still continuing patronage relations legacies among
political actors. This study strengthens Aspinall (2013a) and Mietzner (2013)
arguments about how the CSOs take political opportunity after Reformasi and
their challenges and response in order to adapt in Soeharto’s political legacy
in two political arenas: the policy making process and electoral politics.
Moreover, Indonesian CSOs are fragmented and weakened for endorsing some
progressive issues in law making process in the House and their weakness to
gain electoral support for winning the CSOs candidates in election. To gather
relevant data about CSOs political activities in these arenas, this study
applies process tracing method. The study’s findings confirm that even though
there is more openness on political opportunity to participate in political
arena, however, it seems that there are no supporting changes in political structures
which are patronage relations among political actors. Therefore, Indonesian CSOs
are fragmented and weakened for endorsing some progressive issues in law making
process in the House and their weakness to gain electoral support for winning
the CSOs candidates in election.
Author: Aditya Perdana
Journal Code: jpsosiologigg150030
