Digital Commons Network^™

Political Empowerment Of West Java Pdi-P Women’S Cadres In The 2024 Legislative Election, Ahmad Rifki Nurfebriansyah, Mudiyati Rahmatunnisa, Ratnia Solihah

Jurnal Wacana Politik

The involvement of women in political parties cannot be ignored. This is because gender equality allows democracy to function properly. PDI-P is the only party that has the highest level of women participation. West Java is one of the crucial provinces in both the 2024 General Election or Regional Election. This study aims to explore how women’s empowerment is carried out by PDI-P West Java in each stage of their politics and what the results are. Qualitative research is conducted by collecting primary and secondary data. Primary data is conducted by interviewing selected informants and secondary data trough related document. …

Clientelism And The Erosion Of Legislative Oversight: Examining The House Of Representative (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat, Dpr) Role Under President Joko Widodo (2014–2024), Muhammad Tri Andika Kurniawan, Suseela Chandra Devi

Jurnal Wacana Politik

This article investigates the weakening of legislative oversight by The House of (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat, DPR) during President Joko Widodo’s tenure from 2014 to 2024. Despite the expanded constitutional authority granted to the DPR following the 1998 political reforms, the quality of oversight function has diminished markedly in the Jokowi era. Drawing on theoretical and empirical literature, the article argues that this erosion is not solely the result of institutional shortcomings or inadequate reform, but is primarily driven by pervasive clientelistic relationships between the president and party elites. Such clientelism entrenches political patronage, enabling the executive to exert significant influence …

The Influence Of Political Fake News On Tiktok And Its Impact On Inter-Ethnic Relations In Malaysia, Ahmad Luqman Mohd Shamsul Amri, Muhammad Aiman Daniel Mustazar, Muhammad Adib Farhan Mohd Hamim, Mohamad Hafifi Jamri

Jurnal Wacana Politik

TikTok as a platform has become an ideal environment for political discussions and even plays a role in spreading false information. Malaysia, a country with diverse ethnicities, has experienced the impact of viral political misinformation on societal harmony. Thus, this study aims to enhance our understanding of how political misinformation on TikTok can exacerbate ethnic differences in Malaysia by highlighting its potential social implications. The study adopts the Uses and Gratifications Theory as a foundation for developing a framework. A quantitative survey method was employed, with data collected via Google Forms from 407 respondents. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS …

Local Political Dynamics In The Implementation Of The Program For Innovation In Regional Development And Empowerment (Pippk) In Bandung City, Hafshah Talia, Sinta Ningrum, Dedi Sukarno

Jurnal Wacana Politik

Local Political Dynamics in the Implementation of the Program for Innovation in Regional Development and Empowerment (PIPPK) in Bandung City examines how local political dynamics influence the implementation of the PIPPK policy. This study focuses on analyzing the interactions among stakeholders, including the Regional Governance Section of Bandung City, subdistrict heads, community leaders, and local political actors, as well as the challenges arising from these dynamics. The research qualitative primary data from in-depth interviews and field observations with secondary data from media documentation and previous studies. The findings indicate that local political dynamics affect decision-making processes, resource allocation, and the …

E-Government Utilization And The Political Logic Of Network Governance In Indonesia’S Local Administration, Dewi Anggraini, Faturachman Alputra Sudirman, Nur Atnan, Muhammad Najib Husain

Jurnal Wacana Politik

This article investigates the utilization of E-Government applications within the framework of network governance in Indonesia’s local administration. Drawing on both qualitative and quantitative methods, this study captures public perceptions of electronic information-based government services and explores the political and institutional dynamics underlying their implementation. Data were collected through questionnaires, document analysis, interviews, and focus group discussions (FGDs) with purposively selected informants, including leaders and staff from local government institutions. The findings demonstrate that e-government platforms enhance service efficiency, transparency, and public satisfaction. Moreover, these applications promote openness in financial management and intra-organizational communication, contributing to greater trust and comfort …

Prabowo Subiyanto’S Legal Political Direction: Critical Discourse Analysis On Law Enforcement In The First Debate Of The 2024 Presidential Election, Khoiron Khoiron, Ahmad Syaifudin

Jurnal Wacana Politik

This article examines how presidential candidates have produced legal discourses that are used as political instruments in winning the political contestation of the Indonesian national presidential election in 2024. Through political discourse, Prabowo Subiyanto aimed to influence the public for his victory. As a result, he emerged victorious, proving that political discourse in public debates can successfully deconstruct, influence, and steer the way of thinking and can lead voters’ preferences. The main argument in this article is that discourse as a political instrument is not empty, but behind the discourse is a form of political truth operation produced for certain …

The Politicization Of Security Issues In Political Leadership: A Study On The “Asing Dan Aseng” Narrative In Indonesian Elections, Suharjimantoro Suharjimantoro, Ratu Zahirah Lutfie

Jurnal Wacana Politik

This study investigates the politicization of security issues in Indonesian electoral politics through the construction and mobilization of the “Asing dan Aseng” narrative—a rhetorical strategy that depicts foreign influence and ethnic Chinese communities as existential threats to national sovereignty. The research aims to understand how political actors strategically use this narrative to mobilize voter support and legitimize their leadership. Using the theoretical lens of securitization and the politics of fear, the study applies a qualitative method based on critical discourse analysis of purposively selected campaign speeches, media coverage, and propaganda materials from the 2014 and 2019 presidential elections and the …

Legal Practices Of Exclusion Towards Palestinian Citizens In Israel: Land Ownership, Ahd Ahmad Mohamad Aljardat

Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية للبحوث في التعليم العالي

Israeli governments have systematically Judaized Palestinian land through policies that were legalized to impose their control over the land, guaranteeing Israel’s ownership of the land, to obliterate the Palestinian identity of Arab groups, by following racist strategies and imposing a legitimate nature on these practices within the concept of citizenship from a legal perspective. These laws guarantee, in the short or long term, the displacement of the Palestinian population from within, to achieve the goal of Jewish hegemony over all the lands of the State of Israel. This research aims to analyze the policy pursued by Israel towards the Palestinians …

A Curse Or A Blessing? The Associations Of Political Knowledge With Partisan Hostility And Condonation Of Political Violence, Gabriel Miao Li

Communication Faculty Articles and Research

This study examines the complex associations of political knowledge with affective polarization and attitudes toward political violence in contemporary U.S. politics. Utilizing data from the 2024 American National Election Studies pre-election survey, the analysis highlights political knowledge's dual roles—as both a potential catalyst for partisan animosity and a critical resource promoting democratic stability. Consistent with recent research, more politically knowledgeable individuals tend to express intensified negative feelings toward opposing political parties, and this tendency is particularly pronounced among individuals who attach less importance to their partisan identity. In the meantime, increased political knowledge is also significantly associated with reduced condonation …

From Cocaine To Avocados: Criminal Market Expansion And Violence, Chelsea Estancona Ph.D., Lucía Tiscornia

Faculty Publications

Most of what we know about organized criminal violence comes from research on illicit narcotics markets. Yet criminal groups also fight to capture markets for licit commodities, as evidenced by Sicilian lemons and Mexican avocados. When do organized criminal groups violently expand into markets for licit goods? We argue that rapid increases in the share of a good’s export value create opportunities for immediate profit and future market manipulation. These opportunities lead to violence as groups expand their territorial holdings and economic portfolio. We provide subnational evidence of our mechanism using data on avocado exports from Mexico, and address reverse …

Politisasi Anggaran Bantuan Keuangan Oleh Petahana Pada Pilkada Serentak Di Indonesia, Austin Nalsalina Sinaga

Jurnal Kebijakan Ekonomi

This study aims to inquire the Political Budget Cycle (PBC) by examining the relationship between the presence of an incumbent during the simultaneous district/city level elections in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020 and village financial assistant. Using the village financial assistant data in 2013-2021, this study conducts a random effect model. The results showed that the existence of an incumbent is significantly correlated with an increase in village financial assistant in one or two years prior to election. Meanwhile, in the election year, there is no significant relationship between variables. The PBC took place in the years prior to election.

The Jokowi Effect On The Victory Of Prabowo: Do People Vote For Continuity?, Cakra Yudi Putra, Dyah Ayu Febriani, Andri Tantyo Cahyo Nugroho, Teguh Dartanto

Economics and Finance in Indonesia

The 2024 Indonesian presidential election marked a striking realignment as Prabowo Subianto—a former opposition leader—secured victory with the tacit endorsement of outgoing President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). This study investigates how the enduring popularity and policy achievements of Jokowi shaped voter preferences in favor of Prabowo, effectively positioning the election as a referendum on political continuity. Building on theories of economic voting and retrospective performance evaluation, the analysis explores the impact of district-level economic indicators, social media penetration, ideological orientation, social assistance distribution, and sociocultural characteristics on electoral outcomes. Employing Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression on data from 481 administrative regions, …

Humanitarian Intervention And Just War Theory, Nathaniel R. King

The Ozark Historical Review

Since the end of World War II, the United States has engaged in a new type of warfare. No longer fighting conventional wars, the United States has begun to enter into an intervention style of warfare. Often, intervention occurs on humanitarian grounds, rather than for reasons of conquest, which can often lead to unwanted destruction and alienate local populations. At the same time America’s military tactics shifted the world saw the resurgence of universal human rights. Increasingly included within these rights was the right to protection, or R2P. Just war theory becomes joined with humanitarianism when the action of intervening …

Researching Post-Industrial Political Behaviour With The National Occupation Classification In The 2019 And 2021 Canada Election Studies, Simon Kiss, Rafael Campos-Gottardo

Laurier Institute for the Study of Public Opinion and Policy

In the following note we describe coding of open-ended responses to respondent occupations in the Canada Election Studies 2019 (phone and online) and 2021 (online). 7904 unique entries were gathered from the three surveys and assigned 5- or 4-digit codes from the National Occupational Classification (NOC) using the information such as job and task descriptions and sample job titles from the NOC. 84%of entries were able to be matched to a 4-digit NOC code and 79% could be matched to a 5-digit code. The note concludes with a brief model of vote choice as a func-tion of whether respondents’ occupations …

Student Activism In Post-Authoritarian Indonesia: Higher Education Reform, Movement Dynamics, And Shifting Political Narratives, Mohammad Fajar Shodiq Ramadlan, Muhammad Faishal Aminuddin

Jurnal Wacana Politik

This study investigates student activism in post-authoritarian Indonesia, focusing on the interplay between higher education reform, movement dynamics, and evolving political narratives over the past decade. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, we surveyed 497 undergraduates from social and political science faculties at 26 Indonesian universities and supplemented our analysis with a document review of student movements from 1999 to 2021. The study examines the transformation of Indonesia’s higher education system, the defining characteristics of contemporary student activism, and the predominant socio-political issues driving post-authoritarian student movements. Our findings show that student activism primarily occurs through various platforms, including social media, organizational …

Moderated Identity Politics: Muslim Voters And Religious Depolarization In North Maluku’S 2024 Gubernatorial Election, Aji Deni, Marno Wance, Muhtar Muhtar

Jurnal Wacana Politik

This study examines religious polarization in North Maluku, proposing moderated identity politics and a hybrid representation model to explain post-conflict electoral behavior. It highlights local leaders who strategically balance identity appeals with cross-group alliances, integrating structural and agential factors to advance electoral theory and offer a replicable model for mitigating identity-based conflict in plural Indonesian regions. Using a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design, quantitative data were first collected from 100 proportionally sampled respondents. Subsequently, in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 17 key informants. Data triangulation, comparing survey results with interview findings, ensured consistency and strengthened the validity of the research conclusions. …

Opportunities And Challenges Of Artificial Intelligence Adoption In Democratization And Public Policy: A Case Study Of The Tangerang Live Application, Anis Fuad, Shanty Kartika Dewi, Yusa Djuyandi

Jurnal Wacana Politik

This study examines the role of the Tangerang LIVE application in promoting democratization and public policy through digital innovation. The approach used is exploratory qualitative, with literature studies, document analysis, and non-participatory observation of citizen interactions—including user reviews, agency responses, and bold media—from May 2024 to March 2025. Data were analyzed using thematic techniques assisted by NVivo, with validation through source triangulation. The focus of the study encompasses (1) citizen accessibility and participation (e-participation), (2) government transparency and accountability, and (3) digital democracy practices, including evidence-based policy deliberations. The results show that the LAKSA feature in Tangerang LIVE provides a …

Resilience As Resistance: Political Discourses Of Climate Adaptation Among Smallholder Coffee Farmers In Forest Conflict Zones Of Central Aceh Indonesia, Vellayati Hajad, Ikhsan Ikhsan, Nabila Hilmy Zafira, Sarini Vita Dewi

Jurnal Wacana Politik

Climate change has exerted significant social, economic, and environmental pressures on small-scale coffee farmers, particularly those living near protected forest areas. Declining yields, land limitations, and restrictive conservation policies have created complex tensions related to resource access and survival strategies. This study aims to analyze the political discourses embedded in the dynamics of land rights disputes and climate adaptation strategies of small-scale coffee farmers. Using a qualitative approach and Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), the study explores how farmers negotiate, reject, and reinterpret state environmental regulations through everyday practices and narratives. This study’s findings reveal that coffee farmers’ adaptation strategies are …

Vulnerable Consolidation Of Democracy In South Korea, Choi Hongseok

Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Series

This research examines the process of democratic consolidation in South Korea, with a focus on the interactions of political actors. It posits that if democratization depends on political interactions, then the outcomes tend to be fluctuating. The study tests the hypothesis that South Korea’s democratic transition was the result of strategic interactions among political actors, analyzing the presidential nomination process of 1992 as a crucial moment in South Korea’s democratization. The analysis employs rational choice theory and a game theory model. The results indicate that the strategic interactions of political actors played a decisive role in shaping the transition process, …

Islamophobia From The Perspective Of Western Political Thought, Tamara Al-Zraiqat

Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Series

This research aims to clarify the concept of Islamophobia, examining its causes, manifestations, and the reasons behind its intensification and the clash between the Islamic world and the West. It also seeks to propose appropriate solutions to address this phenomenon and counter its negative effects. The study concludes that Islamophobia has become prominent in international political discourse, especially following political events and attacks by (Islamic) groups on civilian targets worldwide. This phenomenon is rooted in the longstanding conflict between followers of major religions. The researcher emphasizes that Islam is often stereotyped in Western societies as a result of Western interests, …

Editor’S Note: Comparative Civilizational Turn: The Future Of The Iscsc In The Wake Of Geopolitical “Grey Rhino” Events, Greg Lewicki

Comparative Civilizations Review

The last few years seem to have brought some bitter realizations among political scientists, forecasters, and security analysts. Namely: they tend to err, and their forecasts too often remain off-target.

Civilization: The Gaze Of Photography, William Alexander Ewing

Comparative Civilizations Review

If the lifetime of our species were imagined as a single 24-hour day, then civilization makes its appearance at the 23.02 mark. And photography? It comes on stage under a minute before midnight.

How marvelous it would have been to have had photography recording our lives throughout those millennia.

Beyond Earth: Strategic Pathways To A Multiplanet Civilization And The Case For Mars Settlement, Andrew Targowski

Comparative Civilizations Review

This research provides a comprehensive and interdisciplinary exploration of the transition toward a multiplanet civilization, with a special focus on Mars as humanity’s first major step beyond Earth. By addressing technological, political, economic, and ethical dimensions, it aims to inform policymakers, scientists, and the public about the feasibility, challenges, and philosophical implications of interplanetary expansion.

As humanity approaches the threshold of becoming a multiplanet civilization, it faces unprecedented scientific, technological, economic, and ethical challenges. This paper explores the rationale, methodologies, and critical considerations for establishing sustainable human settlements beyond Earth, with a particular focus on Mars. By analyzing advances in …

In Remembrance Of Carolyn Potter, Joseph Drew

Comparative Civilizations Review

Carolyn served for the past decade as the Senior Editor of this journal. She was responsible for several aspects of production, including article formatting, the CCR style guide, and copy editing, and she served as the first stop in reviewing, weighing the academic merit of submissions. Her intellectual conclusions were invariably accurate.

Resisting Islamophobia: “Westophobia” In Social Media, Peter O'Brien, Jordan Nelson

Comparative Civilizations Review

Both the practice and study of Islamophobia repose on the concept of comparative civilizations. Purveyors of Islamophobia use what Roger Westcott calls a “denotative” understanding to posit an objective conflict (or “clash” à la Samual Huntington) between Western and Islamic civilizations. Scholars who analyze Islamophobia tend to take what Westcott calls a “connotative” approach that views civilizations as subjective, social constructs (à la Edward Said’s “Orient”).

Despite many advantages, the latter approach tends to dismiss the agency of Muslims to resist Islamophobia. This article counters that trend by exploring Islamist resistance to Islamophobia, to which we give the shorthand label, …

Academic Civilization: Expansion And Development, Inbar Gotlib Gotlib-Rivkin

Comparative Civilizations Review

The concept of academic civilization was developed out of and in relation to that of modern civilization. Prominent characteristics of modern civilization are reflected in institutions of higher education, and they can therefore be regarded as constituting a civilization. The six main characteristics of institutions of higher education that render them a civilization include expansion in terms of scope and growth, flexibility and institutional diversity, center-periphery relations, academic culture, autonomy and academic freedom, and the monopolization of professional training and the professional middle class. This paper addresses the first characteristic — expansion of institutions of higher education — and …

Books Of Interest Fall 2025, Stephen T. Satkiewicz

Comparative Civilizations Review

Books that may be of interest to scholars of the comparative study of civilizations, and may add significantly to the body of scholarship in the civilizational field. These books are also available for book reviews in future editions of Comparative Civilizations Review.

End Matter

Comparative Civilizations Review

No abstract provided.

Battle Of Sects? Iran And Saudi Arabia’S Role Conflict, Babak Rezaeedaryakenari, Özgür Özdamar, Yasemin Akbaba

Political Science Faculty Publications

How do secular and religious national role conceptions (NRCs) influence interstate rivalry? To explore this, we examine the rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia, two theocratic states. Drawing on scholarship that integrates power politics and religion, we examine how instrumental motivations shape religion-based policymaking. Using semantic network and regression analyses on data from eight official Twitter/X accounts of Iranian and Saudi foreign policy officials (2015–2021), we find that both states’ officials strategically use secular and religious NRCs in response to foreign policy roles adopted by their rival. Our findings underscore the coexistence of these NRCs and their selective application in …

Prerogative In Common: On The Emancipatory Potential Of Radical Mutuality Amid Sovereign Decisionism, Matthew Builes

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

In times of crisis, liberal democracies resort to authoritarian measures that undermine core democratic values. Dominant thought in the study of emergency-era law and politics appeal to a dichotomy of normal and exceptional times, to critique or justify the turn to sovereign decisionism. While this strategy seems clear-cut, the persistence of exceptional spaces and the crises that supposedly generate them challenge existing frameworks by blurring the line between norm and exception. This project explores the prospect of radical mutual aid, as a transformative response to the enduring crisis of modernity.