Patronase Politik sebagai Bentuk Rasionalitas Pemilih dalam Pemilihan Kepala Daerah Kota Binjai Tahun 2024

Riky Ovaliansyah Harahap; Indra Fauzan; Ira Rizka Aisyah Lubis; Dea Amanda Sembiring

doi:10.33822/jpds.v7i2.14359

Authors

Riky Ovaliansyah Harahap Universitas Bangka Belitung
Indra Fauzan Universitas Sumatera Utara https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6988-9491
Ira Rizka Aisyah Lubis Universitas Sumatera Utara https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9465-3592
Dea Amanda Sembiring Universitas Sumatera Utara https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2341-0965

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33822/jpds.v7i2.14359

Keywords:

Political Patronage; Voter Rationality; Local Election; Rational Choice; Selective Incentives

Abstract

This study examines voters’ tendencies to consider direct benefits, candidate programs, candidates’ experience, and evaluations of government performance when determining their political choices in the 2024 Binjai Mayoral Election. The election was characterized by the presence of political patronage, in which political relations between candidates and voters were established not only through ideological and programmatic considerations but also through exchanges of benefits and considerations of the advantages received by voters. Therefore, this study aims to analyze political patronage as a form of voter rationality by examining how political preferences, political affiliations, candidate experience, and evaluations of incumbent performance are associated with voters’ political behavior. This study employs a quantitative approach using a survey of 1,200 respondents in Binjai City selected through multi-stage random sampling, drawing on Rational Choice Theory and the concept of selective incentives. The findings indicate that political patronage in the 2024 Binjai Mayoral Election is associated with voters’ pragmatic considerations regarding the benefits expected from candidates. This study contributes to the literature on voting behavior by demonstrating how the concept of selective incentives can be applied to explain benefit-oriented considerations in electoral behavior within the context of local politics in Indonesia.

References

Anggoro, T. (2019). Politik Patronase dan Klientelisme Purnawirawan Tni Pada Pemilu Legislatif. Jurnal Ilmu Pemerintahan : Kajian Ilmu Pemerintahan Dan Politik Daerah, 4(1), 64–74. https://doi.org/10.24905/jip.v4i1.1242

As’ad, M. U., Barsinahor, Sobirin, & Hergianasari, P. (2023). Oligarki dan Jaringan Patronase: Dinamika Kebijakan Pertambangan Batu Bara di Kabupaten Tanah Bumbu. POLITIKA: Jurnal Ilmu Politik, 14(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.14710/politika.14.1.2023.1-17

Berenschot, W. (2018). The Political Economy of Clientelism : A Comparative Study of Indonesia ’ s Patronage Democracy. Comparative Political Studies, 51(12), 1563–1593. https://doi.org/10.1177/0010414018758756

Dalupe, B. (2020). Kandidat Perempuan dan Tantangan Politik Patronase pada Pemilu Legislatif 2019 di Provinsi Nusa Tenggara Timur. Jurnal Inada, 3(1), 15–34. https://doi.org/0.33541/ji.v3i1.1902

Daniswari, D. (2022). Profil Kota Binjai. Kompas. https://regional.kompas.com/read/2022/08/15/145305178/profil-kota-binjai?page=all

Dzunuwanus, G. M. (2016). PILKADA LANGSUNG DAN REKONSTRUKSI DEMOKRASI INDONESIA. JIIP: Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu Pemerintahan, 2(2), 12–17. https://doi.org/10.14710/jiip.v2i2.2118

Gherghina, S., & Tap, P. (2024). Buying loyalty: Volatile voters and electoral clientelism. Politics, 44(4), 670–687. https://doi.org/10.1177/02633957221132707

Guerra, A., & Justesen, M. K. (2022). Vote buying and redistribution. Public Choice, 193(3–4), 315–344. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11127-022-00999-x

Häusermann, S., Kurer, T., & Zollinger, D. (2023). Aspiration Versus Apprehension: Economic Opportunities and Electoral Preferences. British Journal of Political Science, 25(4), 1230–1251. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007123423000145

Hilmawan, T. (2022). The Politics Patronation of The Nation’s Awakening Party In The Election of Members of the Regional People’s Regional Board of Regency of Lampung East In 2019 (Vol. 2019) [University of Lampung]. http://digilib.unila.ac.id/id/eprint/63817

Khairi, H. (2020). Local Elections ( Pilkada): Money Politics and Cukong Democracy. Jurnal Bina Praja, 12(2), 249–260. https://doi.org/10.21787/jbp.12.2020.249-260

Kusumana, M. A. M., & Mustofa, M. U. (2024). Demokrasi Di Bawah Bayang-Bayang Patronase-Klientelisme : Memitigasi Praktik Politisasi Birokrasi Di Indonesia. The Indonesian Journal of Politics and Policy, 6(1), 30–41. https://journal.unsika.ac.id/index.php/IJPP

Lewis, D., & Hossain, A. (2019). Local Political Consolidation in Bangladesh : Power , Informality and Patronage. Development and Change, 53(2), 356–375. https://doi.org/10.1111/dech.12534

Lim, W. M. (2024). What Is Quantitative Research? An Overview and Guidelines. Australasian Marketing Journal, 33(3), 325–348. https://doi.org/10.1177/14413582241264622

Long, F., & Ye, Z. (2025). Who values competent minds and who likes warm hearts? The role of right-wing authoritarianism and social dominance orientation in shaping voter preferences for political candidates. British Journal of Social Psychology, 64(3), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.70004

Mauk, M. (2022). Electoral integrity matters: how electoral process conditions the relationship between political losing and political trust. Quality and Quantity, 56(3), 1709–1728. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-020-01050-1

Mulyadi, D., Simbolon, C. C., Baidhowi, N. R., Januwati, P., Lananda, A., & Rahmah, M. A. (2024). Fenomena kotak kosong dalam pilkada tahun 2024. Jurnal Hukum Ius Publicum, 5(2), 233–262. https://doi.org/10.55551/jip.v5i2.185

Nastain, M., & Nugroho, C. (2022). Relasi Kuasa dan Suara: Politik Patron Klien Pada Pilkada Langsung di Kabupaten Grobogan 2020 1. POLITIKA: Jurnal Ilmu Politik, 13(1), 167–184. https://doi.org/10.14710/politika.13.1.2022.167-184

Nicher, S., & Nunnari, S. (2022). Declared Support and Clientelism. Comparative Political Studies, 55(13), 2178–2216. https://doi.org/10.1177/00104140211066208

Okthariza, N. (2019). Petahana, Patronase, dan Politik Uang di Jawa. Centre for Strategic and International Studies, (3), 1–9. https://s3-csis-web.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/static/doc/Election_Series_No._3___Politik_Uang1.pdf

Oppenheimer, J. A. (2008). Rational Choice Theory. Encyclopedia of Political Theory, 3(1), 1150–1159.

Pahrudin, & Hapsa. (2019). Praktik Patronase Politik di Indonesia Pasca Reformasi dan Upaya Mengatasinya. JURNAL MAJELIS, 6(8), 93. https://www.mpr.go.id/pengkajian/Jurnal_Ed_6_2019.pdf#page=108

Park, B. B. (2023). How Does a Relative Economy Affect Voter Turnout? Political Behavior, 45(3), 855–875. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11109-021-09736-4

Pellicer, M., Wegner, E., Benstead, L. J., & Lust, E. (2021). Poor people’s beliefs and the dynamics of clientelism. Journal of Theoretical Politics, 33(3), 300–332. https://doi.org/10.1177/09516298211003661

Pratama, R. A., Tandi, R., & Alvina. (2023). Politik Patronase Pada Pemerintah Daerah Provinsi Sulawesi Tenggara. JAPMAS : Jurnal Politik Dan Demokrasi, 1(2), 129–139. https://japmas.uho.ac.id/index.php/journal/index

Putra, S. R., & Bagaskara, I. G. P. O. (2024). Clientelism and Corruption in Local Elections: Evidence from Indonesia’s Pilkada. Indonesian Anti Corruption Studies, 1(2), 15–30. https://doi.org/10.65815/0vpvyh91

Ravanilla, N., & Hicken, A. (2023). Poverty, social networks, and clientelism. World Development, 162(1), 106–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2022.106128

Rohmah, E. I. (2023). Praktik Patronase dalam Pemilu dan Implikasinya Terhadap Kredibilitas Demokrasi di Indonesia. Staatsrecht: Jurnal Hukum Kenegaraan Dan Politik Islam, 3(1), 93–111. https://doi.org/10.14421/nn2y2916

Rosanti, R. (2020). Political Pragmatics in Indonesia : Candidates, the Coalition of Political Parties and Single Candidates for Local Elections. Jurnal Bina Praja, 12(2), 153–165. https://doi.org/10.21787/jbp.12.2020.153-165

Rosyan, A. N., & Prasojo, E. (2024). Pemilihan Umum dan Budaya Patronase : Mahalnya Biaya Politik di Tengah Berkembangnya Sistem Meritokrasi. PUBLIKAUMA : Jurnal Ilmu Administrasi Publik, 12(1), 47–63. https://doi.org/10.31289/publika.v12i1.11791

Sadat, A., & Basir, M. A. (2025). Clientelism, coalitions, and concessions: pragmatism in local elections and its democratic costs. Frontiers in Political Science, 7, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpos.2025.1664786

Safitri, E., Akhyar, T., & Apriani, R. (2025). Patronase Politik Dalam Pemilihan Umum Calon Anggota Legislatif Pada Daerah Pemilihan 5 Kabupaten Ogan Komering Ilir Tahun 2024. Al-Zayn: Jurnal Ilmu Sosial & Hukum, 3(4), 3862–3874. https://doi.org/10.61104/alz.v3i4.1864

Sancino, A., Sicilia, M., & Grossi, G. (2018). Between patronage and good governance : Organizational arrangements in (local) public appointment processes. International Review of Administrative Sciences, 84(4), 785–802. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020852316675944

Saragih, J., Ningsih, P. W., Latifah, M., Julita, E., & Ivana, J. (2024). Demokrasi Patronase Dan Praktik Politik Uang: Pengalaman Pilkada Sumut Oleh Mahasiswa PPKN Unimed. Public Service and Governanca Journal, 5(1), 109–118. https://doi.org/10.56444/psgj.v5i1.1231

Scott, J. (2000). Rational Choice Theory. In Understanding Contemporary Society: Theories of the Present (pp. 126–138). Sage Publications. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446218310.n9

Sejati, S. P., & Hakim, A. B. (2024). Politik Transaksional dan Pragmatisme Masyarakat Dalam Demokrasi Modern. JOSh: Journal of Sharia, 3(1), 69–75. https://doi.org/10.55352/josh.v3i01.819

Sinambela, L., Nurdiyansyah, M., & Wardani, A. H. (2022). KOMUNIKASI POLITIK PATRONASE NU DALAM PILKADA KABUPATEN PURBALINGGA 2020. Konvergensi : Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu Komunikasi, 3(2), 297–313. https://journal.paramadina.ac.id/index.php/IK/article/view/706%0A

Swanson, R. A., & Holton, E. F. (2005). Research in Organizations: Foundations and Methods of Inquiry. Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.

Tan, P. (2020). Populisme , Pilkada dan Masa Depan Demokrasi. Jurnal Administrasi Publik Unika Widya Mandira, 3(2), 80–94. https://doi.org/10.30822/jap.v3i2.862

Tanjung, M. A., & Saraswati, R. (2019). Single Candidacy of Local Head Elections That Harms the Quality of Democracy. Jurnal Yudisial, 12(3), 269–285. https://doi.org/10.29123/jy.v12i3.319

Valgarðsson, V., Jennings, W., Stoker, G., McKay, L., Devine, D., & Clarke, N. (2025). The Good Politician: Competence, Integrity and Authenticity in Seven Democracies. Political Studies, 73(2), 631–656. https://doi.org/10.1177/00323217241261180