REPUBLIKANISME DAN PRAKTIK POLITIK TRANSAKSIONAL DALAM POLITIK ELEKTORAL INDONESIA PASCA REFORMASI

Abstract

Electoral political practices in Indonesia after the 1998 Reform era are examined through the lens of republicanism as the constitutional foundation of the state. Drawing upon the provisions of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia which affirm the republican form of the state and the principle of popular sovereignty, this study aims to assess the extent to which general elections and regional head elections function as substantive instruments for the realization of popular sovereignty. The research employs a normative juridical method with conceptual and historical approaches, relying on an analysis of classical republican thought, the debates of the nation’s founders during the sessions of the Investigating Committee for Preparatory Work for Independence, and contemporary electoral political practices. The findings reveal a significant gap between republican ideals emphasizing the common good, moral virtue, and the limitation of power domination, and the realities of electoral politics characterized by the persistence of transactional practices. Such conditions reflect a tendency toward proceduralist democracy that risks obscuring the constitutional objectives of public welfare and popular sovereignty. Ultimately, the strengthening of political ethics, civic education, and institutional reforms within the electoral system is regarded as essential for revitalizing republican values in Indonesian democracy.