Comparison of Party Systems and Election: Old and New Order Political Parties in Indonesia

Perbandingan Sistem Kepartaian dan Pemilu: Partai Politik Orde Lama dan Baru di Indonesia

Abstract

The political history of Indonesia encompasses the Old Order and the New Order, with significant differences in the party system and elections. The Old Order shows political pluralism with many active parties, while the New Order focuses more on stability by reducing the number of parties. Political dynamics and external factors such as the dominance of major parties and candidate selection strategies also influence the relationship between the party system and elections in Indonesia. This research aims to compare the party system and electoral processes between Political Parties in the Old Order and New Order eras in Indonesia. The research method used is a comparative analysis based on historical data and related literature. The research findings show that during the Old Order era marked by President Soekarno's government, Indonesia's party system was dominated by the Indonesian National Party (PNI). Elections during this time also had unique characteristics reflecting the political power of the PNI in controlling the national political process. On the other hand, the New Order era under President Soeharto's government showed different dynamics in the party system and elections. Golkar, as the ruling party, had strong dominance in the party system. Elections during the New Order era tended to be tightly controlled to maintain established political power. Comparing the party system and elections in these two periods provides profound insights into Indonesia's political evolution. This research is expected to make a significant contribution to our understanding of political dynamics and changes in Indonesia's political system over time, as well as the implications of the party system and elections for democracy building, political stability, and political representation in Indonesia.