Civil-society Support A Decisive Factor in the Indonesian Presidential Elections in 2014

Abstract

This paper argues that the enormous support of civil-society organizations was a major reason for Joko Widodo's victory in the Indonesian presidential elections in 2014. Social-science theories generally assign civil-society organizations leading role in strengthening democratic political order and improving the quality of democracy in it. The authors' assessment of Joko Widodo's election campaign reveals that the involvement of volunteer groups (relawan) with pro-democratic goals was an important component. The remarkable commitment of these civil-society organizations, which provided support in a variety of ways, can be interpreted as a positive sign that democracy is deepening in Indonesia.