Political Dynamics in Education Policy in Indonesia: A Systematic Literature Review
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study examines the political dynamics shaping education policy in Indonesia through a systematic literature review (SLR). While education policy is often framed as a technical and rational process, increasing evidence suggests that political interests, power relations, and governance structures play a decisive role in policy formulation and implementation. Using the PRISMA framework, this study analyzes peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2025. The findings reveal that education policy in Indonesia is strongly influenced by elite actors, decentralization politics, institutional fragmentation, and ideological contestation. The review further demonstrates that decentralization reforms have produced both opportunities for local participation and challenges related to policy inconsistency and unequal implementation across regions. This study proposes a Political–Policy Interaction Model that conceptualizes policy processes as dynamic interactions between political forces and governance structures. The findings contribute to Public Policy Analysis by integrating political economy and governance perspectives into education policy research, particularly in developing countries.
Article Details
Section

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
LPPM Politeknik Katolik Saint Paul Sorong
How to Cite
References
Ball, S. J. (2015). What is policy? 21 years later: Reflections on the possibilities of policy research. Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, 36(3), 306–313. https://doi.org/10.1080/01596306.2015.1015279
Peters, B. G. (2015). Advanced Introduction to Public Policy. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Mokalu, Y. B., Rofinus, B., Sendiang, D. J., Kondoy, E., Arundaa, R., Pangalila, T., & Umbase, R. S. (2026). PERAN MANAJERIAL KEPALA SEKOLAH DALAM MENGOPTIMALKAN PENGEMBANGAN KARAKTER SISWA DI SMP FRATER DON BOSCO MANADO PADA ERA KURIKULUM MERDEKA. Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan, 11(2), 2440-2454.
Mok, K. H & Han X. (2016). Higher education governance in Asia: Policy reforms and institutional changes. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 38(3), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/1360080X.2016.1174409
Sayed, Y. (2013). Education, governance and the tyranny of numbers. Comparative Education, 49(4), 501–511.
Alhamuddin, A., Hamdani, F. F. R. S., Tandika, D., & Adwiyah, R. (2020). Politics of curriculum development in Indonesia: A historical review on educational curriculum. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 9(1), 29–56. https://doi.org/10.14421/jpi.2020.91.29-56
Jessop, B. (2010). Cultural political economy and critical policy studies. Critical Policy Studies, 3(3–4), 336–356. https://doi.org/10.1080/19460171003619741
Lonto, A. L., & Umbase, R. S. (2020, October). Multicultural education in the globalization era: challenges and expectations. In 3rd International Conference on Social Sciences (ICSS 2020) (pp. 12-16). Atlantis Press.
Dewi, R., & Wajdi, M. B. N. (2023). Political will and inclusive education policy implementation in Indonesia. Journal of Social and Policy Studies, 5(1), 1–15.
Jumaidi, J., Yusuf, R.T., Mustanis & Sanusi. (2024). Political influence on education quality in Aceh. Emerging Science Journal, 8(4), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.28991/ESJ-2024-08-04-011
Rizvi, F., & Lingard, B. (2010). Globalizing Education Policy. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203867396
Verger, A., Lubienski, C. & Steiner-Khamsi, G. (2014). Policy Borrowing and Lending in Education. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315720357
Hill, M., & Hupe, P. (2002). Implementing Public Policy: Governance in Theory and Practice. Sage Publications.
Paat, W. R., Katuuk, D. A., Rawis, J. A., Lengkong, J. S. J., & Umbase, R. (2025). Evaluating the Effectiveness of E-Learning Implementation in the Professional Teacher Education Program through the CIPPO Model. International Journal of Information Technology and Education, 4(4), 189-203.
Fanani, A., Yasin, I., & Murniati, A. (2020). Politics of education in curriculum development policy in Indonesia from 1947 to 2013: A documentary research. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 9(1), 29-56.
Alhamuddin, A., & Murniati, A. (2025). Politics and Implementation Challenges in Indonesia's Curriculum Policy Transformation. Al-Ishlah: Jurnal Pendidikan, 17(2), 3421-3432.
Sari, M., Sapriya, Rahmat. (2025). Politics and civic education curriculum in Indonesia. Jurnal Pendidikan Kewarganegaraan, 9(2), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.31571/jpkn.v9i2.9690
Lipsky, M. (2010). Street-Level Bureaucracy: Dilemmas of the Individual in Public Services. Russell Sage Foundation.
Ohajunwa, C. O. (2022). Local knowledge in inclusive education policies in Africa: informing sustainable outcomes. African Journal of Disability (Online), 11, 1-8.
Widiastuti, I. (2025). Assessing the Impact of Education Policies in Indonesia: Challenges, Achievement, and Future Direction. Al-Ishlah: Jurnal Pendidikan, 17(2), 1955-1964.
Sabatier, P. A & Wible, C. M. (2014). Theories of the Policy Process. Westview Press. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429494284
Anderson, G. L. (2009). Advocacy leadership: Toward a post-reform agenda in education. Journal of Educational Administration and History, 41(4), 371–386.
Bangkara, B. M. A. S. A., et al. (2022). Policy implementation and educational governance in Indonesia. Linguistics and Culture Review, 6(S5), 2156–2167.
Carnoy, M. (2016). Education and economic development. International Journal of Educational Development, 46, 1–3.
Grek, S. (2009). Governing by numbers: The PISA effect in Europe. Journal of Education Policy, 24(1), 23–37.
Howlett, M. (2019). Designing Public Policies: Principles and Instruments. Cambridge University Press.
Bray, M. (2013). Shadow education: Comparative perspectives on the expansion and implications of private supplementary tutoring. Comparative Education, 49(4), 512–530.
Dale, R. (2005). Globalisation, knowledge economy and comparative education. Comparative Education, 41(2), 117–149.
Ikasari, Y. (2019). Politics, identity, and education in Indonesia. Linguistics and Education Journal, 1(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.21831/lingped.v1i1.27087
Noviani, N., et al. (2025). Education policy and educational equity in Indonesia. Theory and Practice of Education, 4(4), 1–14.