Local and National Elections in Remote Indonesia: The Case of Sumba

Democratization has brought some significant changes to Indonesia, but in peripheral regions such as the island of Sumba, there remains much continuity. Although party system opened up after fall Suharto’s New Order 1999, ways which royal status and patronage act influence elections Sumba remain, especially at local provincial levels. The national political conversation, however, does politics Sumba. In 2019 presidential election, perceived threat Islam from candidate Prabowo Subianto pushed predominantly Protestant population its province East Nusa Tenggara choose his opponent, Joko Widodo, for a second term, similar other non-Muslim provinces.