International Journal of Economics Management and Social Science
The International Journal of Economics, Management and Social Science (IJEMSS), published by the Salewangang Institute, is a journal that publishes research findings from both Indonesian and international scholars in the fields of economics and social sciences.
Discipline Management and Professional Attitude Formation Among Sea Transportation Cadets: Evidence from STIP Jakarta
Discipline management constitutes one of the foundational pillars of maritime cadet education, operating at the intersection of institutional governance, professional socialization, and the formation of the behavioral and attitudinal standards expected of seafaring officers. Yet empirical studies examining how discipline management systems are perceived, experienced, and internalized by cadets across differentiated training tracks—and how these perceptions relate to professional attitude formation outcomes—remain sparse in the Indonesian maritime education literature. This study investigates discipline management practices and professional attitude formation among sea transportation cadets at Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Pelayaran (STIP) Jakarta, drawing on data from thirty cadets—fifteen from the deck nautical program and fifteen from the engine technics program—alongside five practitioner-lecturers comprising three maritime captains and two master mariners. Employing a qualitative descriptive design with thematic analysis, cross-group comparison, and narrative synthesis, the study maps the perceptual landscape of discipline management across cadet tracks and practitioner perspectives. Findings reveal that while cadets broadly affirm the necessity of discipline management, significant divergences exist between tracks in the perceived fairness, consistency, and formation effectiveness of current institutional discipline systems. Practitioner-lecturers identify structural inconsistencies in rule enforcement and a gap between formal disciplinary procedures and the cultivation of internalized professional attitudes as the most consequential institutional management challenges. The study contributes an attitudinal mapping framework for maritime cadet discipline management and offers practical recommendations for institutional policy reform at STIP Jakarta. Keywords : discipline management; professional attitude; maritime cadet; formation; STIP Jakarta
discipline management; professional attitude; maritime cadet; formation; STIP Jakarta
Copyright (c) 2026 Nafi Almuzani (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Lecturer-Practitioner Leadership in Maritime Cadet Formation: Perceptions of Former Seafarers as Educators at STIP Jakarta
The integration of experienced seafarers into the academic workforce of maritime higher education institutions constitutes one of the most distinctive features of professional maritime training management. Yet the leadership dynamics of practitioner-educators—and how their professional identities, authority, and pedagogical approaches are perceived by cadets across different training tracks—remain substantially undertheorized in the maritime education literature. This study investigates the perceptions of deck nautical and engine technics cadets at Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Pelayaran (STIP) Jakarta regarding the leadership effectiveness of former seafarers serving as lecturers, while also capturing practitioner-lecturers' self-reported managerial and pedagogical philosophies. Employing a qualitative descriptive design, data were gathered from thirty cadets—fifteen per track—and five practitioner-lecturers comprising three maritime captains and two master mariners. Findings reveal that while cadet perceptions of practitioner-educator authority and occupational credibility are broadly positive across both tracks, significant differences emerge in how deck and engine technics cadets evaluate the pedagogical leadership, mentoring quality, and professional relevance of their seafarer-educators. Practitioner-lecturers themselves demonstrate distinctive leadership orientations shaped by their seafaring ranks and professional histories. The study contributes a bidirectional perceptual framework for understanding practitioner-educator leadership in maritime cadet formation and offers institutional recommendations for optimizing the educator-formation relationship at STIP Jakarta. Keywords : practitioner-educator; maritime cadet formation; lecturer leadership; seafarer identity
practitioner-educator; maritime cadet formation; lecturer leadership; seafarer identity
Copyright (c) 2026 Meilinasari Nurhasanah (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Competency-Based Training Management for Deck and Engine Cadets: A Comparative Analysis at Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Pelayaran Jakarta
The rapid transformation of the global maritime industry, driven by technological advancement, evolving regulatory frameworks, and the emergence of autonomous vessel technologies, has intensified demands for competency-based training management in maritime higher education institutions. This study examines and comparatively analyzes the implementation of competency-based training management for deck nautical and engine technics cadets at Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Pelayaran (STIP) Jakarta, Indonesia's premier state maritime polytechnic. Employing a qualitative descriptive design, data were collected from thirty cadets—fifteen from the deck nautical program and fifteen from the engine technics program—alongside five practitioner-lecturers comprising three maritime captains and two master mariners. Instruments included structured interview protocols, competency assessment rubrics, and observational checklists. Findings reveal significant discrepancies between the two cadet tracks in terms of perceived training effectiveness, competency progression, and instructional support, with engine technics cadets reporting comparatively lower satisfaction with the alignment between curriculum content and shipboard realities. Practitioner-lecturers identified institutional inflexibility and outdated competency benchmarks as principal barriers to training quality. The study contributes an original comparative framework for diagnosing track-specific competency management deficiencies and offers institutional policy recommendations aligned with STCW standards and contemporary maritime operational demands. Keywords : competency-based training; maritime education; deck cadets; engine cadets
competency-based training; maritime education; deck cadets; engine cadets
Copyright (c) 2026 Suhartini (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Curriculum Relevance and Industry Alignment in Sea Transportation Cadet Education: A Management Perspective
The accelerating pace of regulatory evolution, technological transformation, and decarbonization imperatives within the global maritime industry has placed unprecedented demands on the curriculum management systems of maritime higher education institutions. Ensuring that academic programs remain substantively aligned with current and emerging industry realities is a central institutional governance challenge that directly shapes the employability, competency readiness, and professional effectiveness of sea transportation graduates. This study investigates curriculum relevance and industry alignment in sea transportation cadet education at Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Pelayaran (STIP) Jakarta, Indonesia, from a curriculum management perspective. Data were collected from thirty cadets—fifteen from the deck nautical program and fifteen from the engine technics program—alongside five practitioner-lecturers comprising three maritime captains and two master mariners, through semi-structured interviews analyzed using thematic analysis, cross-group comparison, and narrative synthesis. Findings reveal that curriculum-industry alignment is perceived as moderate to low across both cadet tracks, with engine technics cadets reporting more acute misalignment in relation to advanced propulsion technologies and digital systems. Practitioner-lecturers identify inadequate curriculum review cycles, weak industry stakeholder integration, and insufficient responsiveness to IMO regulatory updates as the principal structural barriers to alignment. The study contributes a management-focused curriculum alignment diagnostic framework and advances institutional recommendations grounded in the specific regulatory and technological challenges reshaping contemporary sea transportation. Keywords : curriculum relevance; industry alignment; maritime education management; sea transportation
curriculum relevance; industry alignment; maritime education management; sea transportation
Copyright (c) 2026 Naomi Louhenapessy (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Islamic Epistemology and Modern Philosophy of Science: Seyyed Hossein Nasr’s Perspective on Contemporary Scientific Paradigms
Contemporary discourse on the relationship between religion and science has reached an unprecedented level of sophistication, yet the distinctively Islamic contribution to epistemological theory has received insufficient attention in mainstream philosophy of science literature. This study addresses that gap by conducting a systematic interdisciplinary analysis of Seyyed Hossein Nasr’s Islamic epistemological framework and its critique of modern scientific paradigms. Nasr Iranian-American philosopher, Professor Emeritus of Islamic Studies at George Washington University, and recipient of numerous international honours including the Templeton Prize nomination has spent six decades developing the most comprehensive contemporary engagement between Islamic intellectual tradition and modern Western philosophy of science. Drawing on Nasr’s major works (1989, 1993, 1996, 2006, 2010, 2016) and a systematic literature review of 60 classical and contemporary sources, this study analyses Nasr’s threefold epistemological framework revelation (wahy), reason (ʿaql), and intuition (kashf/dhawq) against four modern scientific paradigms: Comtean positivism, Popperian critical rationalism, Kuhnian paradigm theory, and postmodern epistemology. The comparative analysis across eight dimensions reveals that Nasr’s framework shares significant common ground with Kuhn’s recognition of the paradigm-dependency of scientific knowledge and with postmodern epistemology’s critique of scientism, while diverging fundamentally from all modern paradigms in its insistence on revelation as the highest epistemological authority and its integration of kashf as a legitimate source of knowledge. Five areas of productive dialogue are identified: the critique of positivist scientism, the social embeddedness of knowledge, the legitimacy of multiple epistemological frameworks, environmental ethics, and the limits of reductionist methodology. The study proposes a model of Complementary Epistemological Engagement (CEE) as a framework for dialogue between Islamic and modern scientific epistemologies that neither subordinates the former to the latter nor retreats into mutual isolation. Keywords: Seyyed Hossein Nasr; Islamic epistemology; philosophy of science; sacred science; perennial philosophy; Kuhn; positivism; tawhid; wahy; kashf; science-religion dialogue
Copyright (c) 2026 Windy Dian Sari, Siti Fatimah (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Positive Psychology and the Concept of Happiness in Islam: An Integration between Al-Ghazaliʿs Ihyāʿ ʿUlūm al-Dīn and Modern Psychological Theory
The question of happiness — its nature, sources, and conditions — stands at the intersection of philosophy, theology, and psychology. In the Islamic intellectual tradition, the most sophisticated treatment of this question is found in the work of Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (1058–1111 CE), whose encyclopaedic Ihya' 'Ulum al-Din (Revivification of the Religious Sciences) devotes substantial attention to the concept of sa'adah (happiness) and its relationship to the purification and cultivation of the human soul. Contemporary positive psychology — inaugurated by Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi (2000) and developed through models including Seligman's PERMA, Maslow's hierarchy of needs, and Frankl's logotherapy — has produced an extensive empirical and theoretical literature on human flourishing. This study conducts a systematic interdisciplinary analysis integrating Al-Ghazali's concept of sa'adah with these four major positive psychology frameworks, examining convergences, divergences, and the possibilities for theoretical synthesis. Drawing on a systematic literature review of 64 classical and contemporary sources (2018–2025), the study identifies eight maqamat al-sa'adah (stations of happiness) in Al-Ghazali's framework — 'ilm (divine knowledge), akhlaq (moral virtue), mujahadah (spiritual struggle), tawakkul (trust in God), sabr (patience), mahabbah (love of God), zuhd (detachment), and shukr (gratitude) — and demonstrates that each has measurable parallels in empirical positive psychology research. Five areas of substantial convergence are identified: the centrality of meaning and purpose, the role of virtue and character strengths, the importance of social bonds, the value of gratitude practices, and the necessity of resilience through hardship. Three fundamental divergences are also identified: the theocentric grounding of Islamic happiness, its eschatological orientation, and its integration of the spiritual dimension as structurally indispensable rather than optional. The study proposes the concept of Integrated Theocentric Wellbeing (ITW) as a synthesis framework that preserves Islamic psychology's metaphysical commitments while engaging productively with the empirical insights of modern positive psychology. Keywords: Islamic positive psychology; sa'adah; Al-Ghazali; Ihya' 'Ulum al-Din; PERMA model; logotherapy; wellbeing; happiness; fithrah; tazkiyah
Copyright (c) 2026 Sri Tuti Rahmawati (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Concept of Fithrah in Islamic Psychology: An Interdisciplinary Perspective between the Qurʿan and Developmental Psychology Theory
The concept of fithrah occupies a foundational position in Islamic thought, denoting the primordial, God-endowed constitution of the human soul — a state of original purity, monotheistic inclination, and moral readiness that every human being possesses at birth. Despite its centrality to Islamic anthropology, theology, and educational philosophy, fithrah has been underexplored as a systematic psychological construct capable of engaging productively with Western developmental psychology. This study addresses that lacuna through an interdisciplinary systematic analysis that examines the convergences and divergences between the Qur'anic concept of fithrah and four major developmental psychology theories: Piaget's cognitive-developmental model, Kohlberg's moral development theory, Erikson's psychosocial stage theory, and Vygotsky's sociocultural framework. Drawing on a systematic review of classical Islamic scholarship — including Al-Ghazali's Ihya' 'Ulum al-Din, Ibn Miskawayh's Tahdhib al-Akhlaq, and Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah's Madarij al-Salikin — alongside contemporary Islamic psychology literature (2018–2025) and the original Western theoretical sources, the study finds five principal areas of scholarly convergence: the recognition of innate moral potential, the role of social environment in shaping moral development, the importance of rational capacity in ethical reasoning, the process of moral growth through identifiable stages, and the centrality of self-cultivation (tazkiyah) as the developmental telos. The study also identifies three fundamental divergences: fithrah's insistence on a transcendent divine origin for moral capacity, its integration of spiritual and rational dimensions within a unified anthropological framework, and its teleological orientation toward divine proximity as the ultimate developmental end-point. The interdisciplinary analysis generates seven theoretical propositions for an Islamically grounded developmental psychology and proposes the concept of Fithrah-Consonant Development (FCD) as a contribution to both Islamic educational theory and cross-cultural psychology. Keywords: fithrah; Islamic psychology; developmental psychology; moral development; interdisciplinary; Qur'an; Piaget; Kohlberg; Erikson; Vygotsky; tazkiyah
Copyright (c) 2026 Ahmad Zain Sarnoto (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Adaptation of Christian Religious Education to the Characteristics of Generation Alpha in Developing Students' Faith and Morality
Generation Alpha is a generation born and raised in the digital era with unique characteristics, such as dependence on technology, critical thinking patterns, and a tendency to learn through visual and digital interaction. This condition requires Christian Religious Education (CRE) to adapt in order to remain relevant and capable of instilling strong faith and moral values amid rapid changes. This study aims to examine the forms of adaptation of CRE in responding to the characteristics of Generation Alpha, particularly in the context of faith and moral education for students. The method used is qualitative through literature review, observation of teaching practices, and analysis of relevant findings. The results show that the adaptation of CRE can be carried out in five main aspects, namely: (1) adapting teaching methods through the use of interactive digital media, gamification, and hybrid learning; (2) adapting teaching materials to be more contextual with students’ digital lives; (3) transforming the role of teachers from mere transmitters of information to facilitators, mentors, and role models of faith; (4) developing project-based and experiential learning activities that involve collaboration with families and churches; and (5) implementing a holistic assessment system that evaluates students’ growth in faith and morals through digital portfolios and personal reflections. Through these adaptations, CRE is expected to address the challenges of education in the digital age while strengthening the faith identity and moral foundation of Generation Alpha. The implication of this study emphasizes that the success of CRE in the 21st century depends greatly on the willingness of teachers and educational institutions to innovate, collaborate, and place faith as the foundation of every learning process. Keywords: Generation Alpha,moral education, technology
Copyright (c) 2026 Priska Sapulette, Juenda Analci Salmau, Yunet Lilimau, Agnes Dahoklory, Ferland Yulex Lessil (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Investment Feasibility Analysis Of Automation TechnologyUsing Real Options Approach And Monte Carlo Simulation
Conventional Net Present Value (NPV) analysis often undervalues capital investments in automation technology by failing to capture the strategic flexibility embedded in investment decisions. This study applies an integrated framework combining Real Options Valuation (ROV) and Monte Carlo simulation to assess the investment feasibility of industrial automation technology in the Indonesian manufacturing context. Using a binomial lattice model with 50,000 Monte Carlo iterations, the analysis demonstrates that the strategic NPV—incorporating options to expand, defer, switch, and abandon—reaches IDR 9.55 billion, significantly exceeding the static NPV of IDR 2.38 billion. The probability of a positive NPV is 78.4%, with a 95% confidence interval of [−IDR 1.2 B, +IDR 12.8 B]. Sensitivity analysis identifies revenue growth rate and capital expenditure as the primary value drivers. The results provide a rigorous, risk-adjusted decision support framework for manufacturing investment planners operating under technological and market uncertainty. Keywords: Real Options Valuation, Monte Carlo simulation, automation investment, NPV, binomial lattice, sensitivity analysis, sustainable manufacturing
Copyright (c) 2026 Chevy Herli Sumerli, Toto Ramadhan, Nilan Saomi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Beyond Personalization: The Paradox of AI-Driven Marketing and Consumer Trust in the Age of Data Privacy Concerns
This study examined the paradoxical relationship between AI-driven personalization and consumer trust in the context of escalating data privacy concerns. While advanced artificial intelligence technologies enabled highly tailored marketing experiences, they simultaneously intensified perceptions of surveillance and data misuse. The research aimed to investigate how AI capability influenced perceived personalization benefits, privacy concerns, and ultimately consumer trust and purchase intention. A quantitative approach was employed using survey data collected from 320 digital consumers, analyzed through structural equation modeling (SEM). The findings revealed that AI-driven personalization significantly enhanced perceived relevance and engagement; however, it also heightened privacy concerns, which negatively affected consumer trust. Notably, trust was found to mediate the relationship between personalization and purchase intention, highlighting a critical trade-off between personalization effectiveness and ethical data practices. Furthermore, transparency and perceived control over personal data moderated the negative effects of privacy concerns, suggesting that responsible AI governance could mitigate trust erosion. The study concluded that while AI-driven marketing strategies improved short-term engagement outcomes, long-term sustainability depended on balancing personalization with privacy assurance. These findings contributed to the emerging discourse on ethical AI marketing by proposing a trust-centered framework that reconciled technological advancement with consumer protection in the digital economy. Keywords: AI-driven marketing; consumer trust; data privacy; personalization paradox
Copyright (c) 2025 Halim Dwi Putra, Juwita Azizah (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Relevance of Ostrom's Institutional Analysis and Development Framework in Managing Community-Based Natural Resource Policies
Natural resource governance in decentralized and community-based contexts remains one of the central challenges in environmental policy. This conceptual article examines the relevance of Elinor Ostrom's Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) Framework as a theoretical lens for analyzing and improving community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) policies in Indonesia and similar developing contexts. Using a systematic literature review and conceptual analysis methodology, the article explores how IAD's core components—action arena, actors, rules-in-use, and outcomes—map onto the complex realities of local governance, customary institutions (adat), and state-community relations in natural resource sectors. The findings reveal that the IAD Framework provides significant analytical utility, particularly in diagnosing institutional failures, identifying leverage points for policy reform, and recognizing the legitimacy of polycentric governance arrangements. However, the framework also encounters limitations when confronted with deep power asymmetries, the commodification of nature, and the weakening of social capital in contemporary rural communities. The article argues that an adapted IAD approach, integrated with political ecology and social capital perspectives, offers a more robust foundation for designing equitable and sustainable CBNRM policies. Practical implications for policymakers and community practitioners are discussed. Keywords: IAD Framework, Ostrom, community-based natural resource management, institutional analysis, polycentric governance, Indonesia.
community-based natural resource management
Copyright (c) 2026 Hardianto, Oman Sukmana, Gonda Yumitro (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Children Protection and Women Empowerment to Violence: A Community based Intervention
Violence against women and children in Tanzania remains seriously issue in human right and public health, where one in three of women experience physical violence and children experience, physical, sexual and neglect. This study used a community-based intervention in Msalala District Council as an operationalization of Tanzania’s National Plan of Action to End Violence Against Women and Children (2024/25-2028/2029). By adopt qualitative method, study organized strategies such as community mobilization, strengthened support system, capacity building, and multi-sectoral coordination using interview with various stakeholders such as women, children, men, community leaders and service providers. Interventions like training protection committees, administering community-based reporting systems, creating safe space and economic empowerment through village savings groups. Findings showed increase of awareness, improved reporting systems and upgraded service coordination. Despite of coordination challenges, resource constrains and cultural resistance the study effective empowered communities as active agent change. Results illustrate, sustainable violence prevention demands, incorporated economic, social and gender-transformative aspects, while responding on power relations and structural barriers underlying violence. Keywords: Violence against women and children, Gender-based violence, Child protection, Community engagement, Prevention strategies
Copyright (c) 2026 Asnath Naftali Remtulla, Oman Sukmana, Rinikso Moelia Kartono, Tri Sulistyaningsih, Asep Nurjaman (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Analysis of the Impact of Sharia Financing on the Growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)
Sharia-compliant financing is increasingly emerging as a funding alternative for MSMEs. However, a deeper understanding of its impact on MSME growth still needs to be explored.The objective of this research is to analyze the impact of sharia financing on the growth and development of MSMEs in certain regions.This research method uses a qualitative method with a case study approach through in-depth interviews and observations of MSME actors who receive sharia financing and managers of sharia financial institutions in several regions.The research results show that Sharia financing has a positive impact on MSME growth, such as increased working capital, market expansion, and business sustainability. Furthermore, the implementation of Sharia principles also increases MSME trust and loyalty towards Sharia financial institutions.This study concludes that Islamic financing plays a crucial role in driving MSME growth, particularly in improving access to capital and business sustainability. Policy support and increased Islamic financial literacy are essential.
Copyright (c) 2026 Ani Pujiati, Lilis Sulistyani, El Munawwarah, Endang Saryanti, Ifah Lathifah (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Halal Tourism Marketing Strategy to Increase the Number of Muslim Tourists in Indonesia
This study aims to examine effective halal tourism marketing strategies for increasing the number of Muslim tourists in Indonesia. The approach used was a qualitative case study method, conducted through in-depth interviews, observations, and document analysis with various halal tourism industry players in several strategic areas. The results revealed that the success of halal tourism marketing strategies is supported by product development that meets the needs and preferences of Muslim tourists, integrated digital and offline promotions, and collaboration between stakeholders, including the government, business actors, and local communities. Furthermore, the use of halal certification and halal destination branding are key factors in attracting Muslim tourists. These findings illustrate that innovative marketing strategies oriented towards Sharia values ​​can increase the competitiveness of halal tourism destinations in Indonesia and contribute to a significant increase in the number of Muslim tourists. This study recommends that destination managers and policymakers strengthen synergies in the development and marketing of sustainable halal tourism
Copyright (c) 2026 Triana Apriani, Mega Rachma Kurniaputri, Nunung Kurniasih, Rahmat Aji Nuryakin, Nurul Fitriani Fatonah (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Analysis of the Influence of the NII Separatist Movement on Indonesia's Ideology as a Democratic State
This article analyzes the influence of the NII (Negara Islam Indonesia / Islamic State of Indonesia) separatist movement on Indonesian democracy and national ideology. NII is an Indonesian Islamic militant organization that has existed since the post-independence period, founded on August 7, 1946, under the leadership of S.M. Kartosoewiryo, aiming to replace the Indonesian state ideology of Pancasila with an Islamic caliphate system based on the Quran. This study uses a qualitative research method with a post-positivist paradigm, combining library research and an in-depth interview with JP, a former NII member from West Sumatra. Social Constructivism theory is employed as the theoretical framework to analyze how radical ideologies are constructed and disseminated. The findings reveal that the NII movement poses a significant threat to national integrity and Indonesian democracy through radical indoctrination, closed structural recruitment, and activities that are contrary to the constitutional foundations of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI). This research concludes that state authority and a constructive approach toward radical ideologies are essential to safeguard the continuity of Indonesian democracy. Keywords: Separatism; NII (Negara Islam Indonesia); Democracy; Radicalism; Constructivism
Copyright (c) 2026 Ubaidah Adielah, Imam Tajus Subkhi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Sustainable Entrepreneurship and ESG Signaling: Impact on Venture Legitimacy and Investor Trust
This study examines how sustainable entrepreneurship practices and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) signaling mechanisms influence venture legitimacy and investor trust in emerging markets. Drawing on signaling theory, institutional theory, and stakeholder theory, we analyze survey data from 214 startup founders and 186 institutional investors across Indonesia. Structural equation modeling (SEM) reveals that proactive ESG disclosure and third-party ESG certification significantly enhance perceived venture legitimacy (β = 0.61, p < 0.001) and investor trust (β = 0.54, p < 0.001). The environmental pillar exerts the strongest direct effect on legitimacy, while the governance pillar is the dominant predictor of investor trust. Venture age and founder sustainability orientation moderate these relationships. The findings suggest that ESG signaling functions as a credibility amplifier for early-stage firms, bridging information asymmetry between entrepreneurs and capital providers. Practical implications underscore the need for startups to embed ESG frameworks early, particularly in contexts where regulatory enforcement remains nascent. Keywords: ESG Signaling, Sustainable Entrepreneurship, Venture Legitimacy, Investor Trust, Signaling Theory
Copyright (c) 2026 Hernawati, Maya Novianti, Eddy Silamat (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Application Of Kingdon's Multiple Streams Theory In Understanding The Dynamics Of Public Policy Agenda Setting In The Digital Democracy Era
This article examines the application of John W. Kingdon's Multiple Streams Theory to the evolving landscape of public policy agenda setting in the digital democracy era. As digitalization permeates governance structures worldwide, traditional models of agenda setting are being profoundly reshaped by the rapid circulation of information, the emergence of digital public spheres, and the proliferation of digital governance tools. This study employs a qualitative literature review method, integrating theoretical frameworks from policy studies and public administration with empirical developments in digital governance. The analysis reveals that the three streams identified by Kingdon the problem stream, the policy stream, and the political stream continue to operate as foundational mechanisms of agenda setting, yet their internal dynamics are substantially transformed in digital contexts. Digital platforms amplify problem recognition and accelerate the convergence of streams, while the growing use of digital archives and information management systems (Setyarto, 2025) enables greater transparency and accessibility in the policy process. The article argues that the concept of the "policy window" becomes both more frequent and more ephemeral in digital democracies, driven by viral information cycles and real-time political responsiveness. Findings suggest that policymakers and scholars must recalibrate the Multiple Streams framework to account for the networked, multi-actor, and data-driven nature of contemporary policy agenda setting. Keywords: Multiple Streams Theory; Kingdon; Agenda Setting; Digital Democracy; Public Policy; Digital Governance
Copyright (c) 2026 Dwiatmodjo Budi Setyarto (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Global Inequality in Sociological Perspective: The Intersection of Political Economy, Public Policy, and Social Justice
Global inequality the systematic and persistent disparity in economic resources, political power, and social opportunities across nations and within societies represents one of the most consequential and theoretically rich problems in contemporary social science. Despite decades of economic growth, the period from 2000 to 2024 has witnessed not a convergence of global living standards but their persistent and in some respects deepening divergence: the top one percent of the global population now commands 45.6 percent of total global wealth, while the bottom fifty percent holds only 1.6 percent. This article develops a comprehensive sociological analysis of global inequality through an integrative theoretical framework that brings together the political economy tradition (Wallerstein's world-systems theory, Harvey's accumulation by dispossession, Piketty's capital dynamics), social justice theory (Rawls's difference principle, Sen's capability approach), and public policy analysis (redistribution mechanisms, fiscal capacity constraints, global governance failures). Through systematic qualitative literature review and secondary analysis of global and Indonesian inequality data from major international databases, the study examines three interrelated dynamics: the structural mechanisms through which global capitalism produces and reproduces inequality across and within nations; the public policy frameworks available for addressing inequality and their structural limitations; and the social justice principles that should guide inequality reduction efforts in both national and global governance. Applied to the Indonesian case which exhibits persistently high wealth concentration despite significant poverty reduction the analysis identifies the tax capacity gap, informal economy informalization, and illicit financial flow problem as the most critical structural constraints on effective inequality policy. The findings argue for multi-level governance reforms that address inequality at the global structural level alongside national policy interventions. Keywords accumulation by dispossession; capability approach; global inequality; Harvey; Piketty; political economy; Rawls; Sen; social justice; world-systems theory
Copyright (c) 2026 Edy Suratno, Oman Sukmana, Tri Sulistyaningsih (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Cultural Hegemony and Local Resistance in the Flow of Global Interconnectedness: Sociological and Postcolonial Perspectives
The acceleration of global interconnectedness — driven by digital communication technologies, transnational capital flows, and the proliferation of global media and entertainment industries — has intensified both the reach of cultural hegemony and the visibility of local cultural resistance. This article examines the dynamics of cultural hegemony and local resistance in the context of contemporary global interconnectedness through an integrative theoretical framework synthesizing Gramsci's hegemony theory, Said's Orientalism and discourse analysis, Bhabha's concepts of mimicry and cultural hybridity, and Spivak's subaltern studies, alongside contemporary digital sociology. Through systematic qualitative literature review and analysis of empirical evidence on Indonesian cultural politics in the global arena, the study identifies four principal domains in which cultural hegemony operates through the mechanisms of global interconnectedness — entertainment and popular culture, academic and knowledge hierarchy, development discourse, and beauty and fashion standards — and maps the corresponding forms of local resistance that Indonesian communities, civil society organizations, and cultural entrepreneurs have developed. The analysis demonstrates that local resistance to cultural hegemony in the digital era takes forms that are neither simply reactive nor purely assimilationist, but reflect the creative hybridization and strategic deployment of both local and global cultural resources that postcolonial theory identifies as characteristic of subaltern agency. The Indonesian case — with its remarkable combination of cultural diversity, Islamic identity politics, national ideology, and digital connectivity — illustrates the complex, multilevel character of contemporary cultural hegemony contestation in a major Global South democracy. Keywords cultural hegemony; Gramsci; Indonesia; local resistance; postcolonial theory; global interconnectedness; Bhabha; Said
Copyright (c) 2026 Ulil Amri, Oman Sukmana, Tri Sulistyaningsih (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Productive Zakat as an Instrument of Social Transformation in Alleviating Structural Poverty in Indonesia: An Analysis of the Role of Amil Zakat Institutions, Resource Distribution, and Mustahiq Empowerment through the Lens of Talcott Parsons's Structural Functionalism
Zakat one of the five pillars of Islam, constituting an obligatory annual wealth transfer from those above the nisab threshold (muzakki) to designated categories of recipients (mustahiq) represents one of the world's oldest and most systematically institutionalized redistribution mechanisms. In Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority democracy, the potential annual zakat collection has been estimated at approximately IDR 327 trillion (approximately USD 21 billion), yet actual collection in 2024 reached only an estimated 7.1 percent of this potential a gap that simultaneously represents an immense unrealized resource for poverty alleviation and a significant institutional challenge. This article examines productive zakat the application of zakat funds to income-generating activities and human capital development rather than mere consumptive distribution as an instrument of social transformation for addressing structural poverty in Indonesia, through the analytical lens of Talcott Parsons's Structural Functionalism, particularly his AGIL (Adaptation, Goal Attainment, Integration, Latent Pattern Maintenance) framework. Through systematic qualitative literature review and secondary analysis of BAZNAS (Badan Amil Zakat Nasional) data and empirical impact studies, the study demonstrates that productive zakat, when properly institutionalized through capable Lembaga Amil Zakat (LAZ), functions as an integrated social system that simultaneously addresses all four AGIL functional imperatives: providing economic adaptive capacity to mustahiq households, organizing collective goal attainment toward poverty reduction targets, integrating social solidarity through redistributive institutional channels, and maintaining Islamic cultural values of generosity and dignified human development. The analysis identifies both the significant achievements and the persistent structural limitations of the Indonesian productive zakat system, with particular attention to the gap between collection potential and actualization, the quality variation of LAZ institutional capacity, and the challenge of sustaining mustahiq transitions to economic self-sufficiency. Keywords AGIL; Lembaga Amil Zakat; mustahiq empowerment; Parsons; productive zakat; structural poverty; social transformation
Copyright (c) 2026 M. Syarif Hidayatullah, Oman Sukmana, Tri Sulistyaningsih (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Globalization and the Transformation of Social Structure: A Sociological Perspective on Cultural Identity Change in the Era of Global Connectivity
Globalization the intensification of cross-border economic, political, cultural, and informational flows that has accelerated dramatically since the late twentieth century has generated profound transformations in social structures and cultural identities across the globe, with particularly consequential effects in rapidly developing societies like Indonesia. This article develops a sociological analysis of globalization's impact on social structure transformation and cultural identity change in the era of global connectivity, integrating four major theoretical perspectives: Anthony Giddens's theory of reflexive modernity and the transformation of intimacy and trust; Ulrich Beck's risk society framework and the individualization of social biography; Manuel Castells's network society analysis; and Arjun Appadurai's global cultural flows and 'scapes' framework. Through systematic qualitative literature review and secondary analysis of national survey data and social indicators from Indonesia (2019–2024), the study examines how globalization is restructuring four dimensions of Indonesian social life: class structure and mobility patterns, institutional trust and social cohesion, family structure and kinship formation, and cultural identity construction. The analysis reveals a characteristic pattern of 'reflexive globalization' in the Indonesian context: rather than producing either cultural homogenization or defensive cultural nationalism, globalization generates a field of creative and contested social transformation in which Indonesian actors selectively appropriate, resist, and hybridize global social forms in ways that reflect their specific cultural, religious, and national contexts. The findings contribute to comparative globalization sociology by demonstrating the specificity of Indonesian social structure transformation and challenging universal models of globalization's social effects. Keywords Appadurai; Beck; Castells; cultural identity; globalization; Giddens; Indonesia; reflexive modernity; social structure transformation
Copyright (c) 2026 Ulil Amri, Oman Sukmana, Tonny Dian Efendi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Crisis of Religious Identity Among Indonesian Gen Z Muslims in the Flow of Global Digital Culture: A Sociological Analysis Based on Tajfel and Turner's Social Identity Theory
Generation Z Muslims in Indonesia born between 1997 and 2012, raised as digital natives in the world's largest Muslim-majority democracy occupy a uniquely complex social position at the intersection of deeply embedded Islamic cultural identity and an all-pervasive global digital culture that transmits competing values, aesthetics, and identity frameworks at unprecedented velocity. This article examines the crisis of religious identity among Indonesian Gen Z Muslims through the theoretical framework of Henri Tajfel and John Turner's Social Identity Theory (SIT), particularly their concepts of social categorization, social comparison, and positive distinctiveness, extended by Turner's self-categorization theory. Through systematic qualitative literature review and secondary analysis of national survey data on Indonesian Muslim youth identity, the study identifies a characteristic pattern of religious identity negotiation that defies both the assimilationist prediction (wholesale adoption of global secular values) and the fundamentalist reaction hypothesis (defensive intensification of religious identity). Instead, the dominant pattern is what this study terms 'selective digital hybridization': the creative but often tension-laden process through which Gen Z Muslims selectively appropriate global digital cultural elements while renegotiating the content, authority structures, and boundaries of their Islamic identity. Five principal domains of religious identity tension are analyzed: ritual practice and worship, religious knowledge and authority, gender identity and social norms, political and civic identity, and social belonging. The findings have significant implications for Islamic educational institutions, Muslim youth organizations, and policy frameworks governing digital media's intersection with religious identity formation in Indonesia. Keywords digital culture; Gen Z; Islamic identity; Indonesia; social identity theory; Tajfel Turner
Copyright (c) 2026 M. Syarif Hidayatullah, Oman Sukmana, Tonny Dian Efendi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Globalization and the Crisis of National Identity: An Interdisciplinary Perspective Across Sociology, Political Science, and Cultural Studies
The relationship between globalization and national identity constitutes one of the most contested and consequential dynamics in contemporary social and political life. As global flows of capital, culture, information, and people intensify and accelerate, they simultaneously challenge the territorial boundedness, cultural homogeneity, and political sovereignty upon which the modern concept of national identity was premised, generating what scholars across multiple disciplines have characterized as a 'crisis of national identity.' This article develops an interdisciplinary analysis of globalization's challenge to national identity by integrating four analytical perspectives: sociological theories of identity and modernity (Giddens's reflexive modernity, Bauman's liquid modernity); political science frameworks analyzing globalization's effects on democratic governance and nationalist politics (Huntington's civilization thesis, Norris and Inglehart's cultural backlash theory); cultural studies approaches to hybridity and national culture (Hall, Bhabha, Appadurai); and political economy analyses of globalization's distributional consequences and their political channeling (Rodrik, Harvey). Through systematic qualitative literature review and analysis of the Indonesian case — which exhibits four simultaneous dimensions of national identity crisis: economic, cultural, religious, and territorial — the study argues that the national identity crisis generated by globalization is neither a transitional condition that will be resolved through completed modernization nor an existential threat to the nation as a meaningful social formation, but rather a structural feature of globalized modernity that demands institutional responses capable of constructing dynamic, inclusive, and pluralist national identities adequate to the conditions of the twenty-first century. The Indonesian experience with Pancasila as a civic national ideology navigating diverse identity pressures offers lessons relevant to comparable plural societies facing similar challenges Keywords Appadurai; Bauman; cultural backlash; Giddens; globalization; identity crisis; interdisciplinary; nationalism; national identity; Pancasila
Copyright (c) 2026 Edy Suratno, Oman Sukmana, Tonny Dian Efendi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Ethnic Identity Conflict and the Politicization of Primordialism: Group Boundary Construction, Communal Sentiment Mobilization, and the Negotiation of Multiculturalism in Postcolonial Plural Societies
The intersection of ethnic identity, political mobilization, and the management of cultural diversity constitutes one of the most consequential and theoretically challenging domains of contemporary sociology, particularly in postcolonial plural societies navigating the tensions between the universalist promises of democratic citizenship and the particularist claims of ethnic community membership. This article develops a theoretically integrated analysis of ethnic identity conflict and the politicization of primordialism in postcolonial plural societies, with particular attention to the Indonesian case, through a synthetic framework that integrates four analytical traditions: primordialism, constructivism, instrumentalism, and postcolonial theory. Drawing upon systematic review of empirical and theoretical literature and secondary analysis of Indonesian social cohesion and ethnic conflict data, the study examines three interrelated dynamics: (1) the construction and maintenance of ethnic group boundaries through the symbolic, institutional, and discursive practices through which ethnic communities demarcate themselves from others; (2) the politicization of primordial sentiments through elite manipulation, digital media amplification, and the structural incentives of competitive electoral politics; and (3) the negotiation of multiculturalism as an institutional and political project through which plural postcolonial societies attempt to manage ethnic diversity without suppressing it. The Indonesian case — with its 1,340 ethnic groups, 34 provinces, six recognized religions, and persistent patterns of ethnic conflict and accommodation — provides an extraordinarily rich empirical context for this theoretical analysis. The study contributes to debates on ethnic politics, multicultural governance, and the sociology of postcolonial societies by arguing that effective multicultural negotiation requires institutional frameworks capable of simultaneously recognizing ethnic difference and transcending ethnic division through inclusive civic identity. Keywords Ethnic identity; primordialism; constructivism; ethnic conflict; multiculturalism; postcolonial; Indonesia; group boundaries; communal mobilization; digital ethnicity; social cohesion
Copyright (c) 2026 Husni Abadi Emha, Oman Sukmana, Tonny Dian Efendi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Tourism as an Arena of Cultural Identity Negotiation in the Era of Globalization: A Theoretical Synthesis of Robertson's Glocalization Theory and Bhabha's Cultural Hybridity
Tourism has emerged as one of the most consequential arenas through which the negotiation between global cultural forces and local cultural identities unfolds in the contemporary era of accelerating globalization. Neither a passive victim of cultural homogenization nor an unproblematic vehicle of cultural exchange, tourism constitutes a structured field of power in which local communities, international visitors, state authorities, and transnational capital interests converge in the production, performance, and contestation of cultural identity. This article develops a theoretical synthesis of Roland Robertson's glocalization theory and Homi Bhabha's concept of cultural hybridity as complementary analytical frameworks for understanding tourism as an arena of cultural identity negotiation. Through systematic review of empirical literature on tourism, cultural identity, and globalization, and secondary analysis of national tourism data from Indonesian destinations, the study argues that glocalization the simultaneous globalization and localization of cultural practices through their mutual adaptation and hybridity the creative production of new cultural forms in the third space between origin and global cultures together capture the dialectical character of tourism-mediated cultural identity transformation more fully than either framework alone. Applied to the Indonesian context particularly the cases of Bali, Yogyakarta, and Labuan Bajo the analysis identifies six principal dimensions of tourism-driven cultural identity negotiation: heritage representation, culinary tourism, sacred sites, traditional arts and crafts, host-guest interaction, and digital tourism and representation. The findings demonstrate that cultural identity transformation under tourism is neither simply destructive (as cultural commodification critiques suggest) nor simply productive (as tourism development advocates claim), but is characterized by complex processes of strategic essentialism, staged authenticity, and third-space cultural creativity that reflect the agency of host communities in actively negotiating the terms of their cultural encounter with global tourism. The study contributes to the sociology of tourism, cultural globalization studies, and Indonesian cultural policy debates. Keywords Tourism; cultural identity; glocalization; hybridity; Robertson; Bhabha; third space; Indonesia; cultural negotiation; staged authenticity; globalization
Copyright (c) 2026 Mohammad Nasruddin, Oman Sukmana, Tonny Dian Efendi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Value Conflicts Between Local and Global Culture in Adolescent Socialization: A Sociological Review of Norm Shifts and Social Identity Transformation
The intersection of global cultural flows and local cultural traditions in the socialization of Indonesian adolescents has emerged as a critical site of sociological inquiry, particularly as accelerating digital connectivity has compressed the cultural distances that previously insulated local communities from the immediate influence of global media, consumption practices, and identity frameworks. This article examines the dynamics of value conflict arising at the intersection of local and global culture in adolescent socialization, with particular attention to the Indonesian context, through an integrative theoretical framework drawing upon Anthony Giddens's structuration theory and theory of late modernity, Arjun Appadurai's concept of global cultural flows and 'scapes,' and Peter Berger's sociology of knowledge and plausibility structures. Through systematic qualitative review of empirical literature and secondary analysis of national survey data on Indonesian adolescent identity and socialization patterns, the study maps six principal domains of value conflict — language, religious and moral norms, gender roles, consumption and lifestyle, civic values, and leisure practices — and traces the processes through which adolescents negotiate these conflicts to construct hybrid social identities that are neither fully traditional nor wholly globalized. The analysis reveals three key dynamics: the domain-specificity of value conflict intensity, which varies significantly across socialization domains; the mediating role of digital platforms, which accelerate global cultural exposure while simultaneously creating new platforms for local cultural assertion; and the emergence of 'reflexive hybridization' as the dominant adolescent identity strategy, wherein global and local cultural elements are selectively combined in configurations that are distinctively generational in their logic and aesthetics. The study contributes to the sociology of adolescence, cultural globalization studies, and Indonesian social theory by demonstrating that adolescent value conflict is not a pathological indicator of cultural disintegration but a constitutive feature of social identity formation in the condition of reflexive late modernity. Keywords Adolescent socialization; value conflict; cultural globalization; local culture; social identity; Giddens; Appadurai; Indonesia; hybridization; digital culture
Copyright (c) 2026 Amri Rahman, Oman Sukmana, Tonny Dian Efendi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Dark Side of Data-Driven Marketing: Consent Fatigue, Privacy Concerns, and Consumer Resistance in Personalized Advertising
A well-prepared abstract allows readers to quickly and accurately identify the basic content of a This study examined the unintended consequences of data-driven marketing, particularly focusing on consent fatigue, privacy concerns, and consumer resistance in personalized advertising. The research addressed the growing paradox wherein increasing personalization, enabled by extensive data collection, undermined consumer trust and engagement. The primary objective was to investigate how repeated consent requests and perceived privacy intrusions influenced consumers’ psychological responses and behavioral intentions. A quantitative approach was employed, using survey data collected from 320 digital consumers, which were analyzed through structural equation modeling. The findings indicated that excessive exposure to consent mechanisms led to cognitive overload and diminished perceived autonomy, thereby intensifying privacy concerns. These concerns significantly triggered resistance behaviors, including advertisement avoidance and reduced purchase intention. The study concluded that while personalization enhanced relevance, its overuse generated adverse outcomes that weakened consumer trust. The results underscored the need for ethically balanced data practices and more user-centric consent designs to sustain long-term engagement in digital marketing environments. Keywords: consent fatigue; privacy concerns; consumer resistance; personalized advertising
consent fatigue; privacy concerns; consumer resistance; personalized advertising
Copyright (c) 2026 Halim Dwi Putra, Rashid Ating, April Kim Lalisan , Juwita Azizah (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Diaspora, Hybrid Identity, and the Politics of Recognition: Negotiating Cultural Citizenship, Transnationalism, and the Crisis of Belonging Among Second-Generation Migrant Communities
Second-generation migrants—those born or largely raised in their parents' country of immigration—occupy a uniquely complex social position that has emerged as one of the central sites of contemporary sociological inquiry into identity, belonging, and citizenship. Caught between the cultural worlds of their parents' origin communities and the societies in which they are formed as social subjects, second-generation diaspora communities navigate an ongoing process of identity negotiation that defies the binary logics of assimilation theory and cultural essentialism alike. This article develops a theoretically integrated analysis of hybrid identity formation, the politics of recognition, and the crisis of belonging among second-generation diaspora communities, drawing upon Stuart Hall's cultural theory of diasporic identity, Homi Bhabha's concept of the 'third space,' and Charles Taylor's philosophy of the politics of recognition. Through systematic qualitative review of empirical literature and secondary analysis of comparative survey data on second-generation identity and belonging, the study examines four interrelated dimensions of the diaspora experience: (1) the formation of hybrid cultural identities through the negotiation of competing cultural repertoires, linguistic practices, and value systems in the 'third space' between origin and host-country cultures; (2) the politics of recognition and misrecognition, wherein second-generation individuals simultaneously seek recognition from host-society institutions as full citizens and from heritage communities as authentic cultural members; (3) transnational belonging and its digital mediation, wherein digital communication technologies have reconfigured the spatial and temporal dimensions of diaspora community formation, enabling new forms of long-distance belonging and collective identity; and (4) the crisis of belonging experienced by segments of the second generation who find themselves suspended between worlds, lacking full recognition in either their parents' origin communities or the host society. The study argues that second-generation diaspora experience represents a paradigmatic case of the 'unfinished business of modernity'—the ongoing tension between the universalist promises of liberal citizenship and the persistent particularisms of cultural difference, racial categorization, and structural inequality that prevent their fulfillment. Keywords Diaspora; second-generation migrants; hybrid identity; politics of recognition; transnationalism; cultural citizenship; belonging; Hall; Bhabha; Taylor
Copyright (c) 2026 Nur Aini Azizah, Oman Sukmana, Tonny Dian Efendi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Crisis of Trust in Democratic Institutions: Populism, Post-Truth Politics, and the Erosion of Social Capital as Threats to Civil Society Cohesion in Contemporary Political Systems
The contemporary crisis of democratic trust represents one of the most consequential political transformations of the twenty-first century. Across established and emerging democracies alike, public confidence in democratic institutionsparliaments, judiciaries, electoral commissions, political parties, and mainstream mediahas declined precipitously, creating conditions of democratic fragility that are being systematically exploited by populist political entrepreneurs and accelerated by the epistemic disruptions of post-truth information ecosystems. This article examines the multidimensional dynamics of institutional trust erosion in contemporary political systems, with particular attention to the Indonesian case, through an integrative theoretical framework that synthesizes Robert Putnam's social capital theory, Cas Mudde and Cristóbal Rovira Kaltwasser's populism studies, and Hannah Arendt's political theory of truth, deception, and the public sphere. Drawing upon systematic review of empirical literature and secondary institutional trust survey data, the study identifies three interrelated mechanisms through which populism and post-truth politics erode the social capital foundations of civil society: (1) the delegitimation of epistemic authority, wherein the systematic dissemination of misinformation and the discrediting of expert and institutional knowledge undermine the shared factual reality upon which democratic deliberation depends; (2) the tribalization of political identity, wherein populist Manichaean narratives of 'pure people' versus 'corrupt elite' intensify bonding social capital within partisan communities while eroding the bridging capital that enables cross-cleavage democratic solidarity; and (3) the platformization of political affect, wherein social media algorithms structurally prioritize emotionally activating content over factually accurate information, producing self-reinforcing cycles of outrage, distrust, and political withdrawal. The Indonesian case, characterized by the interplay of democratic consolidation, Islamic political mobilization, digital media penetration, and oligarchic power dynamics, provides a particularly illuminating empirical context for these theoretical arguments. The findings carry significant implications for theories of democratic resilience and for policy efforts to strengthen civil society in the face of contemporary anti-democratic pressures. Keywords Democratic trust; populism; post-truth politics; social capital; civil society; Indonesia; Putnam; disinformation; democratic backsliding; political polarization
Copyright (c) 2026 Fahmi Huda, Oman Sukmana, Tonny Dian Efendi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Dynamics of Indonesia's Middle Class in the Vortex of Global Consumerism: Lifestyle, Symbolic Distinction, and the Contradictions of Social Aspiration amid Neoliberal Economic Uncertainty
The Indonesian middle class has emerged as a pivotal social stratum whose consumption behaviors are increasingly shaped by the intersections of global capital flows, digital media ecosystems, and neoliberal economic imperatives. Drawing upon Pierre Bourdieu's field theory—particularly his concepts of capital, habitus, and distinction—this article critically examines the complex dynamics through which Indonesia's expanding middle class negotiates its social identity, aspiration, and symbolic boundaries within the context of global consumerism. Through a systematic qualitative review of empirical studies and secondary datasets, this research identifies three central tensions: (1) the aspiration-precarity paradox, wherein middle-class households simultaneously pursue upward symbolic mobility while remaining structurally vulnerable to economic downturns; (2) the glocalization of taste, wherein global consumption norms are selectively appropriated and hybridized with local cultural and religious values, producing distinctive consumption repertoires such as the halal lifestyle economy; and (3) the platformization of distinction, wherein digital platforms—particularly social media and e-commerce ecosystems—have restructured the field of symbolic competition, enabling new forms of distinction while simultaneously commodifying identity. The findings suggest that Indonesia's middle class occupies a fundamentally ambivalent position: aspirationally upward-mobile yet structurally precarious, globally oriented yet locally rooted, consumer-sovereign yet platform-dependent. This study contributes to sociological debates on class formation in the Global South by arguing that the Indonesian case represents a distinctive configuration of middle-class subjectivity under conditions of late neoliberal capitalism. Keywords Middle class; consumerism; symbolic distinction; neoliberalism; Bourdieu; Indonesia; lifestyle politics; platform capitalism
Copyright (c) 2026 Eko Nur Syahputro, Oman Sukmana, Tonny Dian Efendi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0