A. Summary of Findings
This study has developed the Transactional Degradation of Democracy (TDD) framework, a multi-level, formalized, and empirically grounded model that links voter rationalization, legislative behavior, and systemic political outcomes. Drawing on the Indonesian context, where transactional politics and vote buying remain prevalent, the analysis integrates psychological, sociological, and political theories with mathematical formalism and numerical simulations.
1. Micro-Level Dynamics
At the individual level, voter rationalization () is strongly influenced by monetary incentives () and moderated by perceived justice ().
High ratios encourage compliance with transactional norms, consistent with cognitive dissonance and social exchange theory.
Low ratios reinforce ethical decision-making, reducing susceptibility to vote selling and short-term rationalizations.
2. Meso-Level Dynamics
Community norms () amplify or dampen micro-level behaviors.
In regions with entrenched transactional politics, social networks normalize unethical behavior, accelerating systemic degradation.
Conversely, civic-minded communities resist normalization, buffering against macro-level erosion of democratic legitimacy.
3. Macro-Level Dynamics