How democratic is Indonesia's policy making process?

While the country enjoys relatively free and open elections, Indonesia currently lacks the necessary foundation for a democratic policymaking process: a robust check and balance mechanism. With virtually no oppositions in the government, and limited space for public participation, the country runs the risk of backsliding into pre-Reformasi era.

This paper attempts to shed light on these challenges and offers a practical framework forward.

Disclaimer: This research was conducted between December 2024 and July 2025, during the post-election period and before the August–September 2025 mass protests.

The findings reflect Indonesia’s policymaking landscape in that post-election context, prior to the shifts that followed the recent wave of civic movements.