Discursive Navigation in Institutional Decoupling: a Critical Analysis of the Dynamics of Ideational Power Communication in the Formation of Regional Apparatuses in Palopo City

This study aims to assess the extent to which institutional discursive navigation influences the occurrence of institutional decoupling in the formation of regional apparatuses in Palopo City. Using a qualitative descriptive method with data collection techniques, including interviews, observation, and documentation, the study analyzes data through a coding process using NVivo 12 Plus software. The findings reveal that "power over ideas" is the most dominant form of discursive power in shaping means-end and policy-practice decoupling. Actors within the Palopo City government use their power to control discourse, limit public participation, and direct the interpretation of regulations. Practically, the ability of local actors to control and communicate discourse becomes a critical factor in determining the implementation of national policies at the local level. The originality of this research lies in the finding that discursive power, particularly in the communication of "power over ideas," functions as a mechanism that enables and sustains decoupling practices within the context of decentralization.