Electronic Theses and Dissertation

Transformasi gerakan bersenjata menjadi partai politik merupakan salah satu mekanisme penting dalam pelembagaan politik pascakonflik. Namun, keberadaan peluang politik melalui perjanjian damai tidak selalu menghasilkan proses transformasi dengan pola, kecepatan, dan kualitas yang sama. Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis dan membandingkan proses transformasi Gerakan Aceh Merdeka (GAM) menjadi Partai Aceh (PA) di Indonesia dan Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) menjadi United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) di Filipina, serta menjelaskan faktor yang menyebabkan perbedaan dinamika transformasi kedua gerakan. Penelitian menggunakan teori Rebel to Party Transformation Jeroen de Zeeuw yang mencakup empat faktor penentu, yaitu karakter gerakan, penyelesaian konflik, konteks politik domestik dan regional, serta aktor internasional, dan empat dimensi perubahan internal: demiliterisasi, pengembangan organisasi partai, demokratisasi pengambilan keputusan, serta adaptasi tujuan dan strategi. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan studi literatur (library research) terhadap dua kasus, melalui analisis isi, analisis komparatif, dan pattern matching. GAM mengalami transformasi yang lebih cepat, padu, dan terkonsolidasi, didukung struktur komando tersentralisasi, homogenitas identitas Aceh, serta kepastian dan kecepatan pelembagaan hukum pascaperjanjian Helsinki. Sebaliknya, transformasi MILF berlangsung lebih lambat dan kompleks akibat struktur komando terdesentralisasi, pluralitas etnis, proses implementasi hukum yang lebih panjang, serta guncangan politik domestik. Meskipun demikian, demokratisasi pengambilan keputusan menjadi titik kerentanan utama pada kedua kasus. Temuan juga menunjukkan bahwa keempat faktor de Zeeuw bekerja dalam rangkaian kausal (cascading effect), bukan secara terpisah. Penelitian merekomendasikan penguatan demokratisasi internal, inklusivitas politik, kepastian regulasi, dan konsistensi implementasi perdamaian untuk mencegah fragmentasi elite dan memperkuat keberlanjutan partai politik eks-gerakan bersenjata.

Kata Kunci: Transformasi Gerakan Bersenjata, GAM, MILF, Partai Aceh, UBJP.

The transformation of armed movements into political parties represents an important mechanism for political institutionalization in post-conflict settings. However, the political opportunities created by peace agreements do not necessarily produce transformation processes with similar trajectories, pace, or outcomes. This study aims to analyze and compare the transformation of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) into the Aceh Party (PA) in Indonesia and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) into the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) in the Philippines, while explaining the factors underlying differences in their transformation trajectories. The study employs Jeroen de Zeeuw’s Rebel to Party Transformation framework, which identifies four key determinants: the nature of the movement, conflict settlement, the domestic and regional political context, and international actors. It also examines four dimensions of internal transformation: demilitarization, party organizational development, democratization of decision-making, and adaptation of goals and strategies. Using a qualitative approach and a comparative case-study design, the study draws on library research and analyzes the two cases through content analysis, comparative analysis, and pattern matching. The findings show that GAM underwent a faster, more cohesive, and more consolidated transformation, supported by a centralized command structure, a relatively homogeneous Acehnese identity, and the certainty and rapidity of legal institutionalization following the Helsinki peace agreement. In contrast, MILF’s transformation was slower and more complex due to its decentralized command structure, ethnic diversity, prolonged legal implementation, and domestic political shocks. Nevertheless, democratization of decision-making emerged as a key vulnerability in both cases. The findings further demonstrate that de Zeeuw’s four determinants operate through a cascading causal process rather than independently. The study recommends strengthening internal democratization, political inclusiveness, regulatory certainty, and consistent peace-agreement implementation to prevent elite fragmentation and enhance the long-term sustainability of former armed movements as political parties. Keywords: Armed Movement Transformation, GAM, MILF, Aceh Party, UBJP.