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- 2026-01-11 (2)
- 2026-01-26 (1)
Keywords
Santri
Rational Approach
Voter Typologies
Sociological and Psychological Factors
How to Cite
Abstract
This article seeks to discuss the influence of Islamic religious authorities on local electoral politics within the context of ongoing democratization in Indonesia. Although local elections are often portrayed as arenas of rational, performance-based democratic decision-making, evidence from several regions—particularly Madura—suggests that religious leaders continue to play a decisive role. Existing studies of Madurese politics consistently highlight the centrality of kiai and pesantren, yet few have systematically analyzed how religious authority interacts with rational voting considerations across different social groups and geographic contexts. To address this gap, this study presents a qualitative case analysis of local elections in Madura, drawing on in-depth interviews and participant observation involving santri, students, and the community across four districts. This article argues that religious authorities remain influential in shaping voter preferences through processes of conditional negotiation, resulting in variations in electoral behavior across rural–urban settings and social categories. Based on these patterns, the article proposes four voter typologies: traditional, rational, critical, and skeptical. Importantly, the observed rationalization of political behavior does not correspond with secularization; instead, it unfolds within—and remains conditioned by—the enduring authority of religious leadership.
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