Indonesian Journal of Social Sciences, Policy and Politics

MATERIAL INCENTIVES AND CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT IN PHILIPPINE LOCAL GOVERNANCE

2025-09-11T09:12:12+07:00

This study examines how barangay officials in the Philippines use ayuda, or material assistance, as a strategy to encourage citizen engagement in local governance. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, individual interviews were conducted with 28 barangay officials across Bukidnon province. Thematic analysis revealed three findings: (1) ayuda is an effective short-term motivator for participation, particularly in economically vulnerable communities, (2) officials are concerned about dependency and transactional forms of engagement, and (3) strategies such as attendance-based distribution, raffles, and food provision are commonly employed to sustain turnout. While these approaches increase citizen presence, they do not guarantee long-term and meaningful participation. This is one of the first studies to explore the perspectives of barangay officials, the implementers of ayuda, highlighting how they operationalize aid as a governance tool. The findings raise critical questions about sustainability and ethics in incentive-driven participation and recommend integrating civic education and participatory mechanisms beyond material rewards. These insights can inform policy design that balances immediate social protection with inclusive and empowered local governance.

AN EXAMINATION OF THE CAUSES AND EXPERIENCES OF ELDERLY RESIDENTS IN KUSHTIA DISTRICT: THE RISE OF OLD AGE HOMES IN BANGLADESH

2025-07-15T00:39:57+07:00

In Bangladesh, population aging is a significant issue because the number of older persons is increasing rapidly, following a decline in fertility and improvements in life expectancy. This qualitative exploratory study aimed to examine the antecedents of how older adults end up in nursing homes and their emotional/psychosocial experiences within these facilities. In this sense, the study identified several key themes based on personal interviews with residents of a government-registered nursing home in the Kushtia district of Bangladesh (n = 15). Thematic analysis indicated that the abuse and neglect by family members, in particular, adult children and daughters-in-law, are significant causes of institutionalization, accompanied by financial crisis, declining health, and absence of available caregivers. The changing demographics, characterized by decreasing fertility rates and the migration of young generations to new cities, have eroded traditional family support systems. Although the nursing home offers protection and some basic needs, most of the people who live there still suffer emotionally, feel lonely, and are dying to see and embrace their families. The Attachment Theory by Bowlby helps explain why the loss of primary caregivers leads older people to seek a safe place in institutions. The results emphasize the need to tighten laws, social security systems, and community-based geriatric interventions to support families in providing dignified care for the aging population in Bangladesh. Mental health services can be incorporated in nursing homes, further benefiting the health of older people who are institutionalized.

THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CHARACTER EDUCATION STRENGTHENING PROGRAM AT STATE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL 4 BINJAI, NORTH SUMATRA

2025-11-27T11:20:39+07:00

This study investigates the implementation of the Character Education Strengthening Program at State Junior High School 4 Binjai, Indonesia. The research aims to analyze how the principles of organization, interpretation, and application interact to support the effectiveness of the program in shaping students’ moral and social behavior. Using a qualitative descriptive design, data were collected through observations, in-depth interviews, and document analysis involving teachers, students, and school administrators. The findings reveal that the success of the program depends on the coherent integration of structural, pedagogical, and behavioral dimensions. The organizational framework provides clear coordination and shared responsibility among school stakeholders, while teachers play a central role in interpreting character values into daily educational practices. The consistent application of the five core values like religiosity, nationalism, independence, cooperation, and integrity has fostered a positive school culture and improved students’ moral awareness. Furthermore, collaboration between the school, parents, and community enhances the sustainability of the program. The study concludes that character education becomes effective when implemented as a holistic moral ecosystem rather than a stand-alone policy. The findings emphasize the importance of leadership, teacher capacity, and community participation in cultivating ethical, disciplined, and socially responsible youth. This research contributes to the broader discourse on education reform and provides strategic insights for policymakers to strengthen character-based learning across schools in Indonesia.

THE RATIONAL ACTOR MODEL ANALYSIS OF DONALD TRUMP’S PERCEPTION TOWARDS THE TRAVEL BAN POLICY

2025-09-11T09:12:56+07:00

The United States is one of the countries that immigrants move to. The economic, political, and social aspects are one of the reasons why the migration process occurs. Although the arrival of immigrants has become part of the development of the United States, the large number of immigrants entering has caused problems so that the Travel Ban policy was formed to protect the interests of its citizens from immigrant threats. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, this research aims to describe how Donald Trump's perception in making the Travel Ban policy. Through the decision-making theory of the rational actor model, the results show that the views on immigrants and the political environment influence Donald Trump as a main actor in his decision-making process. Thus, through the calculation of profit and loss, making the Travel Ban policy is considered a rational and profitable choice for his country.

FACTORS THAT AFFECT COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMPLETE SYSTEMATIC LAND REGISTRATION PROGRAM (PTSL) AT THE PEKANBARU CITY LAND AGENCY OFFICE

2025-07-15T00:40:44+07:00

The Systematic Land Registration Program (PTSL) is a government initiative aimed at providing legal certainty regarding land ownership for the public. However, in Pekanbaru City, community participation in this program remains relatively low. This research aims to identify the factors that influence both the success and hindrances of community participation in the implementation of the PTSL program at the Pekanbaru Land Office. This study employs a descriptive qualitative method with a field research approach. Data were collected through interviews, observation, and documentation. Informants consisted of land office staff and community members who had participated in or were currently participating in the PTSL program. Data analysis was conducted in three stages: data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The results of the study indicate that community participation is influenced by effective two-way communication, ease of access to information and services, direct involvement in the measurement process, and community-based outreach. However, several obstacles were also identified, including a lack of adequate socialization, financial constraints, the absence of landowners during verification, and suboptimal coordination at the neighborhood level. Therefore, improving communication strategies, ensuring transparency in procedures and costs, and strengthening the role of local community leaders are essential to increasing the effectiveness of the PTSL program.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NURSES’ CARING BEHAVIOR AND INPATIENT SATISFACTION LEVELS AT BHAYANGKARA HOSPITAL

2025-09-11T09:16:55+07:00

Nurses play a crucial role as the frontline providers of healthcare services, and their caring behavior is one of the essential aspects that determine the quality of nursing care. Caring not only reflects humanitarian values but also significantly influences patient satisfaction. This study aims to analyze the relationship between nurses’ caring behavior and the level of patient satisfaction among inpatients at Bhayangkara Brimob Hospital. The research employed a quantitative approach with a cross-sectional design. A total of 40 inpatients from wards on the 3rd and 5th floors were recruited using purposive sampling, based on predetermined inclusion criteria. Data were collected using validated and reliable questionnaires measuring nurses’ caring behavior and patient satisfaction. Data analysis was conducted using univariate and bivariate methods, with the Spearman Rank test applied to examine the relationship between variables. The findings revealed that most nurses demonstrated caring behavior at the “often” category (52.5%), while the majority of patients reported being “very satisfied” (58.97%) with the nursing services they received. Statistical analysis confirmed a significant relationship between caring behavior and patient satisfaction (p = 0.033). These results highlight that the better the quality of caring behavior demonstrated by nurses, the higher the level of patient satisfaction. Therefore, strengthening nurses’ caring competencies should be prioritized as part of efforts to improve the overall quality of nursing care services.