Candidate entry in a non-partisan context: Evidence from Indonesia
| Author | Nathan W Allen |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/20578911221130945 |
| Published date | 01 March 2023 |
| Date | 01 March 2023 |
| Subject Matter | Research note |
Candidate entry in a non-
partisan context: Evidence
from Indonesia
Nathan W Allen
St Francis Xavier University, Canada
Abstract
Why do candidates enter an electoral contest? The Rational Model of Candidate Entry offers
a parsimonious explanation focusing on the probability of victory, the benefitofholding
office, as well as campaign costs. Quality challengers enter when there is a high probability
of victory, while long-shot races attract amateurs. In most contexts, the presence of parties
makes it difficult to disentangle candidate decisions from organizational recruitment strat-
egies. To test the basic assumptions of the Rational Model of Candidate Entry, this
Research Note examines candidate entry decisions in Indonesia’s Regional Representative
Council (Dewan Perwakilan Dae rah, DPD), the world’s largest elected non-partisan assembly.
An analysis of constituency-level candidate lists in all four DPD elections indicates that entry
decisions are affected by the perceived probability of victory, with fewer candidates entering
in constituencies with a more concentrated vote in the previous election. Potentially win-
nable DPD races attract a greater number of experienced challengers, partisan amateurs,
and non-partisan amateurs. Only the number of non-partisan amateur candidates consistently
correlates with socio-demographic variables, further underlining the importance of electoral
context for ambitious, politically savvy elites. The findings affirm the broad applicability of the
Rational Model and spotlight Indonesia’s often-overlooked DPD as a venue of strategic
behaviour.
Keywords
candidates, elections, Indonesia, non-partisan
Corresponding author:
Nathan W Allen, Department of Political Science, St Francis Xavier University, Mulroney Hall 4047, 2329 Notre Dame
Avenue, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada, B2G 2W5.
Email: nallen@stfx.ca
Research note
Asian Journal of Comparative Politics
2023, Vol. 8(1) 463–475
© The Author(s) 2022
Article reuse guidelines:
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DOI: 10.1177/20578911221130945
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