PhD Thesis at UI: Clientelism in Indonesian Politics

The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at Universitas Indonesia (FISIP UI) has recently awarded Sadri with a Doctorate in Political Science. During his thesis defense on January 5 at the Juwono Sudarsono Auditorium, Sadri received a ‘very satisfactory’ grade. His study, titled ‘The Relations of Political Clientelism between Candidates and Ulama: A Study of Tarekat Jejaring Tuanku Spiritual Leader Support’, explores the dynamics of political relationships and the support provided by religious leaders in West Sumatra’s Padang Pariaman district. Clientelism in Indonesian politics is often intertwined with traditional power structures, where religious and societal leaders play key roles in mobilizing voters. This research sheds light on the mechanisms of such relationships and their impact on local elections.