Transactional politics and abstention in Indonesia: An Islamic political ethics perspective

Abstract

In many Indonesian villages, electoral participation is often driven more by material incentives from political candidates than by civic consciousness. This study examines how patron-client relations shape political participation and why the absence of material incentives leads to abstention in Turi Village, Lamongan Regency, Indonesia during the 2024 local elections, viewed through the perspective of Islamic political ethics. Using a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 6 informants, non-participant observation, and documentation analysis. The findings show that political participation in Turi Village is largely transactional, with voters expecting benefits such as cash, rice, or cooking oil. When such incentives are absent, voter participation declines, and abstention becomes a socially accepted practice reinforced by peer influence and low political trust. From the perspective of Islamic political ethics, these practices contradict the values of trustworthiness (amanah), justice (‘adl), and honesty (sidq), and may be categorized as bribery (risywah). The study concludes that religiosity alone is insufficient to encourage ethical democratic participation amid persistent socio-economic dependency and transactional political culture. Strengthening democratic participation therefore requires structural reforms, increased political trust, and the reinforcement of Islamic ethical values oriented toward public welfare (maslahah).