Democratization at the Regency and City Level in Indonesia in the Era of Regional Autonomy

The purpose of this study is to analyze and describe democracy in the level of regency and city in Indonesia in the era of regional autonomy. The research method is explanatory case study using qualitative approach. The results of the study suggest that: 1). Democratization in the form of institutionalization of participatory and pro-poor values is a social transformation that occurs through social practices which cross time and space (structuration). Structuration occurs in four dimensions, namely signification, domination-authoritative, domination-allocative and legitimation. 2). In the process, there are factors that constraint both agency and the structure: a). From the aspect of structure, the enabling factors are political reform and regional autonomy while the constraining factors are old regime, neopatrimonialism of the bureaucracy and pragmatism of the society. b). From the aspect of agent, the enabling factors are new Regents and mayors and progressive bureaucrats (state actors) as well as NGOs, the media, intellectuals, associations, and the combination of state-society organizations (public actors). Meanwhile, the constraining factors are old bureaucrats (state actors) and pragmatic grassroots leaders (public actors). 3). In the institutionalization of democracy, the process of mutual reinforcement between state and society actors occurs. 4). The achievement of institutionalization of democracy in participatory and pro-poor values can occur due to non-simultaneous movement patterns. The early movement is participatory, and then it leads to pro-poor. Keywords—democratization; structuration; participatory; state