Blusukan Campaign, a New Format of Institutional Democracy at the Local Level

For the first time blusukan style was used in the political arena when Joko Widodo campaigned to become Governor of DKI Jakarta in 2012. At that time he and his partner Basuki Tjahaya Purnama seriously surrounded the city of Jakarta, while visiting Jakarta residents both at work and those who were relaxing at home and on the highway. The same style was continued by the regional head candidate pairs who competed in the East Java Governor election period 2013-2018. Some of the places the candidates relied on were markets, shops or supermarkets.

From then on "blush" became a trending topic in the campaign. Replacing the old format such as entertainment performances to the way of mobilizing the masses (procession) in very large numbers and then conveying the vision and mission if one day will be elected as a bearer in the regional head election. With the "blusukan" campaign, the candidates for the area suddenly become visiting places that are loved by the public, such as markets, malls or other places such as entertainment and games organized by the public. In short, now the "blusukan" campaign seems to be a new arena to convey the vision and mission of the candidates for regional head candidates who will fight in the upcoming simultaneous local elections.