<![CDATA[Local elections in Indonesia are shaped not only by party competition but also by informal authority, social networks, and long-term relations between candidates and community leaders. This study examines why Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) kiai supported the Ade Yasin-Iwan Setiawan (HADIST) ticket in the 2018 Bogor Regency election and how that support was communicated. A qualitative case-study design was employed using semi-structured interviews with four purposively selected informants from PCNU Bogor Regency, MUI Bogor Regency, MWCNU Sukaraja, and academia, complemented by official election documents, campaign reports, and scholarly literature. The findings indicate that the most consistent basis of support was the Yasin family's accumulated relationship with kiai, pesantren, and Nahdliyin communities. Cultural proximity to NU strengthened familiarity, while assessments of Ade Yasin's social engagement and candidate profile provided an additional evaluative basis. Kiai then translated these preferences into political communication through religious gatherings, pesantren networks, and NU-linked social spaces. Their authority, however, was conditional rather than absolute because voters also accessed alternative political information, including digital media. The study highlights relational trust as the bridge connecting family networks, religious authority, and electoral mobilization.]]>
Copyrights © 2026
