Indonesian Anti Corruption Studies
Vol. 1 No. 3 (2024): September, 2024

Cultural Dimensions of Corruption in Indonesia: Between Tolerance and Resistance

Nyoman Shanti (Universitas Pendidikan Nasional)



Article Info

Publish Date
31 Jul 2024

Abstract

Corruption in Indonesia is not only a legal and political challenge but also a deeply embedded cultural phenomenon. This paper explores the cultural dimensions of corruption, focusing on how social norms, values, and informal practices contribute to both tolerance and resistance toward corrupt behavior. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork, interviews, and cultural theory, the study examines how concepts such as “patronage,” “gotong royong” (mutual cooperation), and hierarchical social relations shape perceptions and practices of corruption at community levels. Findings reveal a complex ambivalence where corruption is simultaneously normalized as a means of survival and rejected as a moral and civic violation. This duality creates significant challenges for anti-corruption initiatives, which often clash with entrenched cultural patterns. The paper contributes to global debates on the importance of culturally sensitive anti-corruption strategies by highlighting Indonesia’s unique social context. It calls for policies that balance legal enforcement with community engagement and cultural awareness to foster sustainable anti-corruption change.

Copyrights © 2024






Journal Info

Abbrev

anticorruption

Publisher

Subject

Description

Indonesian Anti Corruption Studies (e-ISSN: 3164-5836) is a peer-reviewed, open-access academic journal in the field of anti-corruption studies, published by COLLEGIUM JUSTICIA INDONESIA in online format (electronic journal). First published in 2024, the journal is issued quarterly in March, June, ...