Shifting Political Strategy, Organizational Characteristics, and Political Issues of Islam-based Party in Indonesia

Abstract

Throughout the 2016-2022 period, the journey of the National Mandate Party (PAN) faced a critical juncture which was marked by its decision to make changes in three aspects, namely changes in strategy, organization and issue position. Amien Rais's personalization has a very big role in transmitting the discourse of populism within PAN and encouraging changes in the position of issues and strategies chosen by the PAN coalition. PAN General Chair Zulkifli Hasan can push to end the personalization of Amien Rais due to (1) PAN's defeat in 2019; (2) the strengthening of the Zulkifli Hasan faction and the nationalist-religious-moderate group in PAN in working together to overcome the personalization problem of Amien Rais and (3) PAN's operational demands and prerequisites (such as eliminating the two suns of PAN and rejecting Islamic populism) to join President Jokowi's government. This research uses a qualitative approach to understand and explore the phenomenon of changes in the PAN party throughout the 2016-2022 period. This research identifies and explores the personalization of Amien Rais' figure influencing strategic shifts and decision-making processes within the National Mandate Party during the 2016-2022 period. This shift includes changes in coalition positions, ideological narratives, and leadership dynamics. This study highlights key findings regarding these changes. First, the shift in the 2016 Coalition, namely the external factor that influenced PAN's shift from opposition to supporting President Jokowi's government in 2016 was the cartelization of political parties in Indonesia. Second, the shift in ideology in 2017-2018, external factors, namely the rise of the Islamic populist movement, especially the success of the 212 movement in the Jakarta gubernatorial election, influenced PAN to change its stance to be in line with the movement. Third, coalition and ideology reversal 2020-2021. External factors, namely the defeat of the opposition party in the 2019 presidential election, ongoing party cartelization, the entry of Gerindra (opposition coalition leader) into Jokowi's government, and the waning influence of the Islamic populist movement contributed to PAN's decision to return to supporting the government. Internal factors related to the shift in dominance from Amien Rais to Zulkifli Hasan as a key figure in PAN decision making play an important role. This shift was influenced by factors such as PAN's defeat in the elections, strengthening support for the Zulkifli Hasan faction, and operational demands.