Thuggery And Local Politics in Indonesia: A Legal Political Analysis of The Involvement of Individuals in Power

This study examines the phenomenon of thuggery involvement in local politics as a form of informal power practices that threaten the integrity of democracy and the rule of law in Indonesia. Thuggery is not only present in the form of physical violence, but also in campaign security, mass mobilisation, and intimidation that are systematically used by political elites to maintain power. This study aims to analyse the dynamics of thuggery involvement in local political practices and evaluate the effectiveness of national legal policies in dealing with this phenomenon. The legal political approach combines normative legal and sociological legal perspectives to understand the interaction between formal regulations and informal power practices. The research method is qualitative with descriptive-analytical analysis techniques that utilize primary legal materials in laws, regional regulations, and election regulations, as well as secondary materials such as scientific journals, media reports, interviews, and case studies. Initial findings indicate that existing legal policies tend to be weak and indecisive in controlling the role of thuggery, which leads to distortion of the democratic process and serious challenges to the principles of the rule of law and good governance. This research provides an analytical basis for legal policy reform that prioritises enforcement aspects, strengthens regulations and transparency, and empowers civil society to suppress informal power practices in local politics. Thus, this research opens up space for more effective and equitable legal policy improvements in the context of Indonesian democracy.