The Persistence of Informal Authority in Indonesian Local Democracy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15575/jispo.v16i1.51907Keywords:
Adat authority, hybrid governance, informal leadership, local democracy, traditional institutions, village governanceAbstract
Traditional authorities remain influential in many democracies, yet limited research explains how customary and formal leadership are integrated within Indonesian village governance. This study examines why informal leadership persists and how customary and administrative authorities interact in Dusun Sade, Rembitan Village, Central Lombok. It employs a descriptive qualitative design based on fieldwork conducted from June to December 2024, including in-depth interviews with village and community actors, observation, and analysis of relevant scholarly and institutional documents. The findings show that customary authority is sustained by awik-awik adat, moral expectations, genealogical-cultural legitimacy, and collective acceptance rooted in Sasak traditions. Rather than competing with formal institutions, customary and state authorities are integrated through a dual leadership arrangement in which the same actors may perform administrative and customary roles. This configuration supports dispute resolution, cultural preservation, community compliance, and the coordination of village governance. The study contributes to debates on informal institutions, hybrid governance, and state–society relations by demonstrating that traditional authority can persist through institutional incorporation rather than resistance to the state. It concludes that adat remains a functioning source of political legitimacy and governance within contemporary local democracy.
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