Keywords
Election, Unity, Pancasila, Exploitation
Document Type
Article
Abstract
The principle of unity in diversity in Indonesia is increasingly challenged by the rise of identity politics and populism. These dynamics emerge as a confluence of pragmatic political strategies and the mobilization of sectarian groups, often leveraging religious and ethnic sentiments during election campaigns. While effective in garnering popular support, such tactics undermine national unity and social cohesion, serving as a shortcut to power at the cost of societal harmony. This issue is particularly pronounced in district head elections, where the politicization of tribal, religious, racial, and inter-community identities has become pervasive. These elections, intended to reflect democratic principles, are frequently overshadowed by divisive identity-based politics. This paper examines how identity politics and populism pose a significant threat to social cohesion, especially during general elections. Employing a normative research methodology, it analyzes legal norms and ethical theories to argue against the use of identity politics and populism at any level of political campaigns. The findings reveal that practical politics in Indonesia often relies on these divisive strategies for electoral success, exacerbating pre-existing societal tensions. The paper posits that identity politics can be overcome with reinterpreting it and referring Pancasila as principle to attain better policy.
First Page
166
Last Page
175
Page Range
166-175
Issue
1
Volume
22
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.21831/jc.v22i1.1291
Recommended Citation
Arifin, F., Tedjabuwana, R., Wiyono, S., & Abdullah, M. b. (2025). Indonesia’s identity politics and populism: Disruption to national cohesion. Jurnal Civics: Media Kajian Kewarganegaraan, 22(1), 166-175. https://doi.org/10.21831/jc.v22i1.1291
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