Abstract
This article examines the phenomenon of independent candidates ( calon perseorangan) in Indonesia’s regional executive elections (Pilkada) to better understand why candidates run as independents and whether independent candidacy has reduced political inequality in the electoral system. In this study, we compiled candidate information using Indonesia’s General Election Commission’s (Komisi Pemilihan Umum, KPU) database as well as structured open-source searches to develop a data set and profiles of independents over three election cycles. Using this data set, we distinguished three categories of independents – partisan, non-partisan, and underdog independents – by analysing differences in power resources and motivations among the candidates. We found that contrary to public perceptions in Indonesia, independent candidacy has not helped to alleviate unequal access to political office. Successful independents are predominantly political insiders and local notables. This finding has important implications for democracy in Indonesia – we show how the inability for political outsiders to win political office harms democratic representation.
Highlights
Our research found that independent candidacy has not reduced political inequality in Indonesia
Non-partisan independents are non-party candidates who run as independents because they do not want to be associated with any political party, but possess significant resources, brand recognition, and networks of their own to stand a reasonable shot of winning the election
To make sense of the diversity of independents in Indonesia, we developed a typology to segment independents based on two axes: (1) their available power resources, and (2) their motivations
Summary
If at all, independent candidacy addresses the issue of political inequality by providing an alternative route and contributing to a more level playing field for aspiring politicians To answer these questions and develop our data set, we used the KPU’s election database and collected information on the vote shares and backgrounds of 289 pairs of independents that ran for regional executive elections in 2015, 2017, and 2018. To address these questions, we assess the profiles of independents using both the open-s ource databases provided by KPU and structured open-source searches to collect information on the profiles and backgrounds of these independents. The allegations were that his father-in-law Obar Sobarna, who headed the regional government
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
