PKS in Post-Reformasi Indonesia

Abstract

This article focuses on the moderation strategy of the Prosperous Justice Party (Partai Keadilan Sejahtera, PKS) and its impact on the Indonesian party system. It makes the argument that PKS's moderation strategy is electorally challenging for both PKS and the Indonesian party system. PKS's moderation strategy has forced it into a difficult competition with established major parties for median voters. PKS's relative success is a product more of the poor performance of the existing Islamic parties than its moderation strategy. With PKS joining the catch-all party bandwagon, the Indonesian party system is now being shaped by dominant catch-all parties, and in the long run such a development will undermine the legitimacy of parties and will become detrimental to the process of democratic consolidation.