Indonesia’s Political Volunteer Organizations: Tools of Mobilization and of Patronage

The relationship between candidates and their volunteers is reciprocal but often imbalanced, fostering opportunities for patronage within electoral politics. 

Volunteers emerge from an electoral system requiring candidates to meet high thresholds to participate. In Indonesia’s multiparty system, where most parties fail to meet these thresholds, coalition-building becomes essential as support for the singular candidate. 

As a result, candidates often lack strong ties to a party or coalition. Volunteer groups, operating independently from party structures and directly under candidates’ control, provide an alternative mechanism for voter mobilization. 

The importance of volunteer groups may decline if political parties become more institutionalized, and candidates consolidate support through single well-established parties with significant voter backing.