Reining in the Reign of the Parties: Political Parties in Contemporary Indonesia

Abstract

This article analyzes party system institutionalization during Indonesia's transition to democracy since 1998. From 1999–2008, I assert, Indonesia has largely been under the reign of the parties. The parties were both strongly embedded in the legal framework of the new democratic system and weakly institutionalized, relying on charisma and platitudes instead of organizational depth, with party splits littering the landscape, thus creating a perfect storm of frustration on the part of many Indonesian people. Legal changes, court decisions, and the rise of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, however, have reined in the parties' power perceptibly. Though these changes may increase individual accountability on the part of politicians, they are likely also to weaken the parties' institutionalization as the emphasis goes from parties to individuals. This has long-term implications for Indonesia's democratization.