Patronage Culture in the Middle of Bureaucratic Reform Efforts in Indonesia

Abstract

This study attempts to verify whether patronage culture and interrelated factors (including weak accountability, hegemonic political regime, high and legitimate power distance, low wages, and bureaucratic dysfunction) is still fairly entrenched in the midway of bureaucratic reform efforts launched by the Indonesian government. Through a desk research-qualitative method, the analysis demonstrates that Patronage culture is still present in the Indonesian bureaucracy though the decreases level, which indicates that it is relatively successful bureaucratic reform efforts. As for other factors that inhibit the bureaucratic reform includes weak accountability, hegemonic political regime, high and legitimate power distance, and bureaucratic dysfunction are still found in the current Indonesia bureaucratic reform. Nevertheless, the low wages factor that impede reform did not occur in the Indonesian bureaucracy because the civil servant income nowadays is relatively high. This study provides several policy recommendations that can be implemented to minimize the influence of patronage culture and other interrelated factors.

Keywords: Patronage culture, interrelated factors, Bureaucratic reform