The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIPOL), Universitas Gadjah Mada, has once again achieved an academic milestone with the launch of a new book authored by faculty members and researchers from the Department of Politics and Government: Alfath Bagus Panuntun El Nur Indonesia, M.A., A. Sudiana Sasmita, Ph.D., and Prof. Haryanto.
The book, titled “Mengenal Sistem Politik Indonesia: Pengantar Teori dan Praktik” (Understanding Indonesia’s Political System: An Introduction to Theory and Practice), represents a significant contribution to Indonesia’s political science literature and serves as a strategic reference for students, academics, and practitioners seeking a deeper understanding of the country’s political dynamics.
Comprising six interconnected chapters, the book is systematically structured to guide readers through the complexities of political systems. The opening chapter introduces the foundational theories of political systems, drawing on the works of classical thinkers such as David Easton, Gabriel A. Almond, Robert Dahl, Talcott Parsons, and Sidney Verba. This theoretical grounding sets the stage for deeper exploration of political structures and functions.
The second chapter examines the structure of Indonesia’s political system, including core state institutions—the executive, legislative, and judiciary—alongside the role of bureaucracy, political parties, and interest groups. The following chapters analyze political system functions and capacities, ranging from regulatory, distributive, and symbolic functions to responsiveness toward domestic and international dynamics.
A key highlight of the book is its analysis of Indonesia’s political system across two major periods: pre- and post-Reformasi 1998. The authors trace the evolution of Indonesia’s political system from the independence era, the Old Order, and the New Order, to the Reformasi era—marked by critical issues such as decentralization, regional autonomy, and the dialectics between Pancasila-based governance and Islamism.
The closing chapter offers critical reflections and projections on the future of Indonesia’s political system, emphasizing the importance of shaping development paths grounded in social justice and substantive democracy.
Through this book, FISIPOL UGM reaffirms its role as a leading center for social and political science development in Indonesia and continues to contribute relevant and forward-looking scholarly works. This publication is expected to enrich academic and public discourse on politics while serving as a key reference for advancing a more democratic, just, and inclusive political practice in Indonesia.
The book is available through the following link.
Relevant SDGs (Integrated in the Narrative)
This book contributes to the advancement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
-
SDG 16 – Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: by promoting stronger democratic institutions and transparent governance.
-
SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities: by highlighting inclusive political participation and equal representation in governance.
-
SDG 4 – Quality Education: by providing accessible academic resources to improve political literacy for students, academics, and the public.