Does Patrimonialism Hinder the Simplification of Bureaucracy Policy in Indonesia?

Abstract

The Jokowi government's policy to simplify structural positions of echelon III and IV in order to speed up the decision-making process and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the bureaucracy and public services to the community needs to be given a thumbs up. This re-echelonering policy has been targeted for more agile and adaptable bureaucracy in facing the development of information and technology. However, amid this new breakthrough, our bureaucracy has long lived side by side with the structure of patrimonialism as a legacy of feudalism which is deeply rooted in Indonesian society. This patrimonial structure has long penetrated and undermined the body of the bureaucracy and caused a pattern of power relations in the form of dependency relationships between leaders and subordinates. The question is how the new policy face this situation? The paper discusses the dimensions of the structure of patrimonialism that has long been prevalent in our bureaucracy and how to propose some strategic steps to minimize and overcome the patrimonial structure in the Indonesia bureaucracy