Uncovering Budget Battle Practices: A Critical Study of Budget Participation in Indonesia

Abstract

Purpose:  This research aims to analyze the budget battle practices between local government (executive) and Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD or legislative) within the context of plenary sessions in North Toraja Regency.   Theoretical framework:  The theoretical framework of this article revolves around the concept of budget participation, influenced by the political environment, and inspired by Paulo Freire's ideas. Budget participation involves the engagement of the community in decisions regarding the allocation of public funds, with a normative emphasis on community involvement values. The influence of the political environment and the political will of the government plays a pivotal role in the success of budget participation.   Design/methodology/approach: This study adopts a critical paradigm and employs the Habitus Theory as a tool for interpreting research data. The research also utilizes the data collection and reduction procedures outlined by Creswell (2014). The study was conducted in North Toraja Regency and involved ten informants selected through purposive sampling technique.   Findings: The research findings reveal several aspects. Firstly, the practice of budgetary battles involves three models: negotiation, holding the Regional Budget Planning (RAPBD) hostage, and intimidation. Secondly, these three behaviors undergo transformation into a homogeneous institutional or group habitus among the actors. Thirdly, this group habitus is deeply internalized by the actors, shaping individual habits that are employed both during plenary sessions and outside the political context within the social realm.   Research, Practical & Social implications: The social implications of these findings indicate that the existence of budgetary battle practices involving negotiation, holding the Regional Budget Planning (RAPBD) hostage, and intimidation can impact political dynamics and financial governance at the regional level. In terms of practice, these findings can provide guidance for policymakers at the local level to implement improvements in budgeting mechanisms.   Originality/value: The originality of this article lies in its contribution to the understanding of how group habitus influences individual dispositions in budgetary battles. The findings concerning the three types of habitus also offer a novel contribution to the literature. This study provides crucial insights for further research in exploring the phenomenon of budgetary battles and their impact on budget participation within the context of local governance.