Political Participation of the Young Generation and Strengthening Humanitarian Values: An Analysis of Voter Behavior in the Digital Era

Abstract

This study examines local power dynamics and local democracy through the lens of political humanism, focusing on how dignity, inclusion, and civic responsibility shape governance practices in decentralized settings. The research aims to explain how power is negotiated among local elites, bureaucratic actors, and civic groups, and how these negotiations affect democratic responsiveness and humanistic public values. A qualitative interpretive case study design was employed because it enables in-depth understanding of informal power relations, moral justifications, and citizen experiences that are often missed by purely quantitative measures. Fieldwork was conducted in the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, selected for its active civil society and mature decentralization practices that provide a rich arena for observing democratic contestation. Data were generated through semi-structured interviews with 15 informants, including local government officials, council members, community leaders, journalists, and civil society advocates, chosen purposively for their direct involvement in decision-making and public accountability. Findings indicate that local democracy is shaped by elite bargaining and patronage tendencies that can narrow participation, yet spaces of deliberation persist where humanistic norms guide service delivery, mediation, and citizen oversight. The study recommends strengthening transparency mechanisms, institutionalizing participatory budgeting, and expanding civic mediation and ethics-based capacity building to safeguard democratic legitimacy and humanistic governance.