Introduction to the Special Section on Presidentialism and Democracy in Indonesia

The three articles in this special section on presidentialism and democracy in Indonesia analyse the state of Indonesian democracy through a careful study of the 2024 elections and the presidential transition from Joko Widodo to Prabowo Subianto. The three articles examine this election and its significance using different but complementary approaches, analysing elite politics, voting behaviour, political cleavages and electoral institutions. Together, these articles contribute to ongoing debates about the quality of Indonesian democracy, the drivers of democratic backsliding, and the institutional and demographic factors that shape vote choice in a diverse society.