The study, entitled “Simultaneous Regional Elections and Their Relevance to National Defense,” examines regional elections not merely as a political process for choosing local leaders. The researchers view elections as part of a broader system that can influence social, political, economic, and national security resilience.
Simultaneous Elections Reshape Local Political Dynamics
Direct regional elections give citizens the opportunity to choose their local leaders directly. This system is expected to strengthen the legitimacy of elected leaders because their political mandate comes directly from the people.
Indonesia began implementing simultaneous regional elections in 2015. The system was then introduced gradually, creating a more coordinated pattern of regional elections. One of the main reasons for adopting simultaneous elections was to reduce the frequency of elections held at different times across various regions.
Before the simultaneous system was introduced, regional elections were held almost every year in different parts of Indonesia. This situation not only created political fatigue but also had the potential to generate local tensions and conflicts that could spread more widely.
According to Surya Iman Wahyudi and his colleagues, simultaneous regional elections have the potential to create a more efficient and organized political system. A more structured electoral schedule can also help the government, political parties, election organizers, and citizens prepare for the democratic process.
Local Stability Is Connected to National Resilience
The study from the Defense University of the Republic of Indonesia emphasizes that national defense is not limited to military strength. National resilience is also influenced by political stability, social cohesion, governance, and economic conditions.
When regional elections are conducted peacefully and democratically, elected leaders gain legitimacy to govern. Stable regional governments can help create a more conducive social environment and support the implementation of public policies.
However, unmanaged political conflict can produce broader consequences. Competition between groups, dissatisfaction with election results, the spread of hoaxes, and political polarization can disrupt social relations.
The researchers emphasize that political stability at the local level is an important element in maintaining national resilience.
Instability in the regions can disrupt public services, weaken trust between citizens and government, and damage confidence in state institutions. In certain circumstances, social conflict can also affect economic activity and relations between central and regional governments.
Political Education and Oversight Are Key
The researchers found that the success of simultaneous regional elections depends not only on the voting mechanism. Political education and effective oversight are also essential to ensuring that the democratic process proceeds peacefully.
Citizens with strong political awareness are better equipped to evaluate candidates based on their vision, programs, and track records. Political education can also help communities respond to misinformation and provocation during elections.
Social media represents one of the major challenges in regional elections. The rapid spread of information can help citizens access political information, but it can also accelerate the circulation of hoaxes and deepen polarization.
For this reason, oversight of campaigns, vote buying, provocation, and misleading information needs to be conducted consistently. Election institutions also play an important role in ensuring that the electoral process is transparent, fair, and conducted according to regulations.
Central–Regional Cooperation Strengthens National Resilience
Simultaneous regional elections can also strengthen relations between central and regional governments. Local leaders with strong legitimacy can implement policies that respond to community needs while remaining aligned with national development priorities.
This synergy is important because many national challenges have local dimensions. Security problems, social conflict, economic inequality, and disruptions to public services can develop into broader problems if they are not handled effectively.
In this context, stable regional governments can serve as one of the foundations of national resilience. Strong relations between regional heads, regional legislative councils, the central government, and communities can create a more accountable system of governance.
The study also highlights the importance of a balance of power between executive and legislative institutions at the regional level. Effective oversight and a clear distribution of authority can prevent the concentration of power while improving the quality of governance.
Quality Elections Support National Defense
The findings of Surya Iman Wahyudi, Priyanto, and Afrizal Hendra show that simultaneous regional elections have two strategic functions. First, they strengthen local democracy by enabling citizens to participate in choosing their leaders. Second, they support national defense by helping create stable, legitimate, and accountable governments.
However, simultaneous elections do not automatically guarantee stability. Political tensions, polarization, social conflict, vote buying, and the spread of misinformation remain risks that must be anticipated.
The researchers therefore recommend strengthening continuous political education, improving the capacity of election organizers, tightening oversight, and increasing coordination between central and regional governments, security institutions, and election supervisory bodies.
With effective management, simultaneous regional elections can become more than a mechanism for changing local leadership. They can also serve as part of a broader strategy to build transparent government, strengthen social cohesion, and maintain national stability.
Author Profiles
Surya Iman Wahyudi is the lead author and a researcher at the Defense University of the Republic of Indonesia whose academic interests include regional elections, politics, defense, national resilience, and political stability.
Priyanto is an academic and researcher at the Defense University of the Republic of Indonesia who contributes to research on politics, governance, and national defense.
Afrizal Hendra is an academic and researcher at the Defense University of the Republic of Indonesia who contributes to research on politics, security, and national resilience.
Research Information
Title: Simultaneous Regional Elections and Their Relevance to National Defense
Authors: Surya Iman Wahyudi, Priyanto, and Afrizal Hendra
Affiliation: Defense University of the Republic of Indonesia
Journal: Jurnal Sosial, Politik dan Budaya (SOSPOLBUD)
Publication Year: 2026
E-ISSN: 2962-2417
DOI: 10.55927/sospolbud.v5i2.16790
0 Komentar