The Aceh Party Across Two Decades of Elections: Political Resilience and Institutional Adaptation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26811/peuradeun.v14i2.2444Keywords:
Political resilience, Party institutionalization, Organizational adaptation, Post-conflict politics, Special autonomyAbstract
Over two decades after the Helsinki peace agreement, the Aceh Party has remained a central actor under Aceh's autonomy-based political system; however, its declining electoral performance and limited gender inclusion raise important questions regarding the organizational resilience of post-conflict local parties. This study examined how internal organizational dynamics and external regulatory pressures shaped the party’s adaptation and long-term viability, with particular attention to women’s political representation. Employing a qualitative case study design, the study utilized semi-structured interviews with key political actors and analysts, complemented by documentary analysis of electoral data and regulatory frameworks. The findings indicated that elite fragmentation, limited cadre regeneration, concentration of leadership authority, and regulatory constraints undermined organizational cohesion, while the absence of structured gender-inclusive mechanisms restricted broader societal engagement. The study contended that in post-conflict autonomy settings, the durability of local parties was shaped less by their historical legitimacy and more by regularized institutional renewal, their ability to adapt, and the use of inclusive organizational practices. By integrating organizational, structural, and gender dimensions within a single analytical framework, this study offered a more comprehensive understanding of party durability and provided a basis for future comparative research in post-conflict and autonomy regions. It also highlighted the importance of aligning institutional reform with evolving societal expectations to sustain democratic legitimacy over time.
References
Abdullah, T., Hamdani, H., & Mulyadi, M. (2022). The Existence of Local Parties in the Perspective of Banda Aceh Citizens. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Growth Evaluation, 3(1), 111–118. https://doi.org/10.54660/anfo.2021.3.1.9
Afrijal, A., Herizal, H., Rassanjani, S., & Mukhrijal, M. (2024). Pork Barrel Politics: A Case Study of the Free Electricity Program in Aceh Jaya Local. Journal of Local Government Issues, 7(2), 159–175. https://doi.org/10.22219/logos.v7i2.32249
Aseri, M., Rasyid, M., Mustapha, A. S. B., Aseri, A. F., & Fedorchenko, O. (2025). Negotiating Authority and Knowledge: Religion, Science, and Politics in the Fatwa Transformations of the Indonesian Ulema Council. Journal of Islamic Law, 6(2), 286–316. https://doi.org/10.24260/jil.v6i2.4702
Azlan, A. A., & Nadzri, M. M. N. (2023). Parliamentary Motions under a Semi-Authoritarian Regime: Evidence from Malaysia. Parliaments, Estates and Representation, 43(2), 127–148. https://doi.org/10.1080/02606755.2022.2148505
Baert, P., Morgan, M., & Ushiyama, R. (2022). Existence Theory: Outline for a Theory of Social Behaviour. Journal of Classical Sociology, 22(1), 7–29. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468795X21998247
Barter, S. J. (2011). The Free Aceh Elections? The 2009 Legislative Contests in Aceh. Indonesia, (91), 113–130. https://doi.org/10.5728/indonesia.91.0113
Bertoa, F. C. (2019). The Calm before the Storm: Explaining the Institutionalization of Southern European Party Systems Before the Great Recession. European Politics and Society, 20(5), 567–590. https://doi.org/10.1080/23745118.2018.1557446
Brady, B., Chaskin, R. J., & McGregor, C. (2020). Promoting Civic and Political Engagement among Marginalized Urban Youth in Three Cities: Strategies and Challenges. Children and Youth Services Review, 116, 105184–105184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105184
Brinke, L. T., & Keltner, D. (2022). Theories of Power: Perceived Strategies for Gaining and Maintaining Power. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 122(1), 53–72. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000345
Budiatri, A. P. (2022). The Impact of Local Parties on Party System Institutionalisation in Post-Conflict Aceh. Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, 41(1), 34–58. https://doi.org/10.1177/18681034211029035
Buehler, M., Nataatmadja, R., & Anugrah, I. (2021). Limitations to Subnational Authoritarianism: Indonesian Local Government Head Elections in Comparative Perspective. Regional & Federal Studies, 31(3), 381–404. https://doi.org/10.1080/13597566.2021.1918388
Clayton, A., O’Brien, D. Z., & Piscopo, J. M. (2025). Electoral Gender Quotas and Democratic Legitimacy. American Political Science Review, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1017/S00030554 25000176
Crowder-Meyer, M. (2022). Progress and Failure in Achieving Equal Representation. In Contested Representation (pp. 82–100). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009267694.007
Detik.com. (2024). Keterwakilan Perempuan di DPR Cetak Rekor, Puan: Mari Jadi Srikandi Rakyat. https://news.detik.com/berita/d-7595028/keterwakilan-perempuan-di-dpr-cetak-rekor-puan-mari-jadi-srikandi-rakyat
Dialeksis.com. (2024). Tujuh Srikandi Aceh Bersinar di DPRA untuk Periode 2024-2029. https://dialeksis.com/aceh/tujuh-srikandi-aceh-bersinar-di-dpra-untuk-periode-2024-2029/
Gauja, A., & Kosiara-Pedersen, K. (2021). Decline, Adaptation and Relevance: Political Parties and Their Researchers in the Twentieth Century. European Political Science, 20(1), 123–138. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41304-020-00312-8
Gunawan, Y., Pangestu, R. A., Hardiyanti, L. A., & Genovés, M. B. (2025). The Effectiveness of International Law in Limiting Humanitarian Disasters in the Palestine-Israel Conflict. Journal of Human Rights, Culture and Legal System, 5(1), 217–245. https://doi.org/10.53955/jhcls.v5i1.307
Hakim, P. R. N., Abdullah, I., & Marlina, L. (2024). Aceh and the Politics of Islamic Identity: Implications for Social and Political Dynamics. Jurnal Politik Profetik, 12(2), 98–115. https://doi.org/10.24252/profetik.v12i2a1
Hakim, P. R. N., Abdullah, I., Musfiroh, M. R., Sintang, S., & Razick, A. S. (2025). Contesting Sharia and Human Rights in the Digital Sphere: Media Representations of the Caning Controversy under the Qanun Jinayat in Aceh. Journal of Islamic Law, 6(2), 206–235. https://doi.org/10.24260/jil.v6i2.3600
Harnides, Abbas, S., & Khairuddin. (2023). Gender Justice in Inheritance Distribution Practices in South Aceh, Indonesia. Samarah, 7(2), 1293–1316. https://doi.org/10.22373/sjhk.v7i2.16688
Hillman, B. (2012). Ethnic Politics and Local Political Parties in Indonesia. Asian Ethnicity, 13(4), 419–440. https://doi.org/10.1080/14631369.2012.710078
Ikramatoun, S., Zulfan, Z., & Aminah, A. (2023). The Decline of Local Political Parties in Post-Conflict Aceh: A Qualitative Study. Jurnal Sosiologi Agama Indonesia (JSAI), 4(1), 41–57. https://doi.org/10.22373/jsai.v4i1.2644
Inayatillah, I. (2023). Acehnese Women in Public Spaces: Theirmovement and Political Participation. Jurnal Ilmiah Peuradeun, 11(1), 117–136. https://doi.org/10.26811/peuradeun.v11i1.823
Janah, K., Fatimah, S., & Hariz, H. S. S. (2023). The Role of Aceh Local Parties in the 2024 General Election in Realizing Democratization. Volksgeist: Jurnal Ilmu Hukum Dan Konstitusi, 6(1), 33–47. https://doi.org/10.24090/volksgeist.v6i1.7532
Jati, W. R. (2023). Managing Ethno-Nationalism within Special Territorial Autonomy Policy: Comparative Cases between Aceh and Papua. Jurnal Politik, 9(1), 3. https://doi.org/10.7454/jp.v9i1.1149
Jimenez-Luque, A. (2021). Reframing the past to legitimate the future: Building collective agency for social change through a process of decolonizing memory. Leadership, 17(5), 586-605. https://doi.org/10.1177/1742715021999892
Kim, H. (2023). Performance-oriented management and political appointment: the interaction effect on quality of government. International Review of Public Administration, 28(1), 83–108. https://doi.org/10.1080/12294659.2023.2188626
Lim, W. M. (2024). What Is Qualitative Research? An Overview and Guidelines. Australasian Marketing Journal, 33(2), 199-229. https://doi.org/10.1177/14413582241264619
Makinara, I. K., Rani, F. A., Idami, Z., & Rinaldi, Y. (2025). Negotiating Sharia and Power: Political Dynamics behind the Drafting of the Qanun on Ahwal Al-Syakhsiyyah in Aceh. Samarah: Jurnal Hukum Keluarga dan Hukum Islam, 9(2), 1154-1172. https://doi.org/10.22373/k97hy420
Mlambo, C., & Kapingura, F. (2019). Factors Influencing women Political Participation: The Case of the SADC Region. Cogent Social Sciences, 5(1), 1681048. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2019.1681048
Muhammad, Z., & Saputra, J. (2022). The Crisis of the Aceh Local Party’s Hegemony Post Election 2019. In 2nd International Conference on Social Science, Political Science, and Humanities (ICoSPOLHUM 2021) (pp. 66-74). Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.220302.011
Mukhrijal, M., Rassanjani, S., Herizal, H., & Afrijal, A. (2021). The Winning of the Partai Aceh in a Psychological Political Approach. Journal of Governance and Public Policy, 8(2), 140–156. https://doi.org/10.18196/jgpp.v8i2.11586
Nastain, M., Abdullah, I., Qodir, Z., Jubba, H., & Cipto, B. (2024). Cultural Barrier in the Regeneration Process of Islamic Political Party in Indonesia. Jurnal Ilmiah Peuradeun, 12(2), 717–740. https://doi.org/10.26811/peuradeun.v12i2.1104
Nivada, A. (2022). Ekstistensi Partai Aceh di percaturan Politik Pilkada. Dialeksis.Com. https://dialeksis.com/analisis/eksistensi-partai-aceh-di-percaturan-politik-pilkada/
Nofriadi, N., Hasan, E., Rassanjani, S., Helmi, H., & Afrijal, A. (2024). Analysis of the Performance of the Election-Winning Agency of the Regional Representative Council of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle in Aceh in Nominating Legislative Candidates for the 2024 Simultaneous General Election. Electronic Journal of Education, Social Economics and Technology, 5(2), 70–78. https://doi.org/10.33122/ejeset.v5i2.237
O’Brien, D. Z. (2019). Female Leaders and Citizens’ Perceptions of Political Parties. Journal of Elections, Public Opinion and Parties, 29(4), 465–489. https://doi.org/10.1080/17457289.2019.1669612
Ocktaviana, S., & Kamaruzzaman, S. (2021). Examining Women, Peace, and Security Agenda in Local Concept Case study: Aceh, Indonesia. Jurnal Masyarakat Dan Budaya, 23(2), 127–140. https://doi.org/10.14203/jmb.v23i2.1403
Pemerintah Aceh. (2014). 12 Perempuan Anggota DPRA Terpilih. https://acehprov.go.id/berita/kategori/politik-hukum/12-perempuan-anggota-dpra-terpilih
Rassanjani, S. (2018). Adu Kuat Partai Politik Lokal Peserta Pemilu Legilatif Tahun 2019. Dialeksis.Com. https://dialeksis.com/analisis/adu-kuat-partai-politik-lokal-peserta-pemilu-legislatif-tahun-2019/
Said, M., Fadli, M., Widiarto, A. E., & Al-Uyun, D. (2025). Between Revelation and Constitution: The Sovereignty Fiqh of Muhammad Yamin’s Sociopolitical Ijtihād. Journal of Islamic Law, 6(2), 236–264. https://doi.org/10.24260/jil.v6i2.4220
Sari, E., Rahman, A., Faisal, F., & Muksalmina, M. (2024). Dinamika Politik Partai Lokal di Aceh Menjelang Pemilu 2024: Analisis Undang-Undang Pemilu dan Partai Lokal. Suloh:Jurnal Fakultas Hukum Universitas Malikussaleh, 12(1), 159–159. https://doi.org/10.29103/sjp.v12i1.12046
Scarrow, S. E. (2021). Intra-Party Democracy and Party Unity: Varied Rules, Varied Consequences. Representation, 57(1), 41–57. https://doi.org/10.1080/00344893.2020.1785537
Sukri, A. I., Kusumastuti, R., & Lutfi, A. (2025). A Deconstruction of Rural Governance Policy to Drive Local Economies. Journal of Sustainable Development and Regulatory Issues, 3(2), 372–399. https://doi.org/10.53955/jsderi.v3i2.111
Syahputra, I., & Baiduri, R. (2018). Eksistensi Partai Politik Lokal Pada Era Otonomi Khusus Aceh. Jurnal Antropologi Sumatera, 16(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.24114/jas.v16i1.20206
Taqwadin, D. A., & Husaini, R. (2022). Aceh. In The Routledge Handbook of Comparative Territorial Autonomies (pp. 119–131). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003001645-12
Terjesen, S., Aguilera, R. V., & Lorenz, R. (2015). Legislating a Woman’s Seat on the Board: Institutional Factors Driving Gender Quotas for Boards of Directors. Journal of Business Ethics, 128(2), 233–251. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-014-2083-1
Triwahyuningsih, Islahuddin, & Putranti, D. (2025). Asymmetric Decentralization in a Unitary State: Lessons from Pattani, Thailand. Journal of Human Rights, Culture and Legal System, 5(3), 897–921. https://doi.org/10.53955/jhcls.v5i3.602
Waeger, D., & Weber, K. (2019). Institutional Complexity and Organizational Change: An Open Polity Perspective. Academy of Management Review, 44(2), 336–359. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2014.0405
Xudayberganovich, M. Y., Ahmadov, A., & Karomi. (2025). The Governments’ Role in Preserving National Identity on Globalization. Journal of Sustainable Development and Regulatory Issues, 3(2), 191–220. https://doi.org/10.53955/jsderi.v3i2.76
Zaini, A., Jambunanda, A. J., Ishom, M., Sunardi, D., & Pudoli, A. (2023). Presidential Nominations from Active Cabinet Ministers: A Delicate Balance between the Interpretation of Constitutional Court Decisions and Political Interests. Volksgeist: Jurnal Ilmu Hukum Dan Konstitusi, 6(2), 281–297. https://doi.org/10.24090/volksgeist.v6i2.9355
Zulfan, Z., Ikramatoun, S., & Aminah, A. (2023). Aceh Local Political Party: The Rise, Victory, and Decline. Multidisciplinary Science Journal, 5, 2023018–2023018. https://doi.org/10.31893/multiscience.2023018
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Aryos Nivada, Caroline Paskarina, Ratnia Sholihah, Ari Ganjar Herdiansah (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms: (1) Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC-BY-SA) that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal; (2) Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal; (3) Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website), as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
