DOI
10.65844/2549-4333.1244
Abstract
Political will is widely recognized as a decisive determinant of policy reform; however, its relational and institutional dynamics in decentralized governance remain insufficiently understood. This study examines how political will is generated, sustained, and operationalized in the recognition of customary forests (hutan adat) in Indonesia, focusing on the interaction between institutional configurations, actor networks, and advocacy coalitions. The research is anchored in an integrated typological-relational framework that combines Brinkerhoff's four dimensions of political will (initiative, alignment, commitment, and policy solution) with core mechanisms of the Advocacy Coalition Framework. An embedded comparative case study design was applied to two West Kalimantan districts with divergent governance trajectories: Sanggau and Mempawah. This study investigates how structural processes (such as regulatory instruments, coordination platforms, and bureaucratic capacity) intersect with relational processes (including actor alignment, coalition coherence, and institutional trust) to shape distinct political will configurations. Analysis identifies four ideal-type configurations-transformative-progressive, adaptive-tactical, ambiguous-reactive, and stagnant-resistant serve as diagnostic categories for assessing governance performance and designing context-sensitive interventions. Sanggau exemplifies a transformative-progressive configuration, characterized by inclusive coproduction, cohesive advocacy coalitions, and adaptive learning embedded in legal and administrative systems. In contrast, Mempawah represents a stagnant-resistant configuration, marked by bureaucratic inertia, fragmented coalitions, and persistent institutional mistrust. From these findings, three strategic imperatives emerge for practical governance: (1) institutionalize strategic alignment through shared-goal platforms; (2) build institutional trust via inclusive and transparent processes; and (3) embed adaptive learning through iterative, feedback-driven implementation. While grounded in Indonesia's decentralized forest governance context, the framework offers broader applicability for other domains, including climate adaptation, Indigenous rights recognition, and agrarian reform.
Recommended Citation
Mulyadi, A., Keban, Y., Ikhwan, H., & Maryudi, A. (2026). Political Will in Decentralized Forest Governance: Developing a Typological-Relational Model from the Formalization of Customary Forests in Indonesia. Forest and Society, 10(1), 77-107. https://doi.org/10.65844/2549-4333.1244 Available at: https://scholarhub.unhas.ac.id/fs/vol10/iss1/6
Pages
77-107
Received Date
3 February 2026
Accepted Date
26 April 2026