The Vertical Problem of COVID-19 in Indonesia: Differences in Concerns and Values between Government and Society

Authors

  • Tian Adhia Nugraha Department of Politics and Government, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18196/jpk.v6i3.23057

Keywords:

COVID-19, Care, Society, Indonesian government, Crisis communication

Abstract

This study aims to deeply understand the care provided by Indonesian society and the government in addressing the COVID-19 issues in Indonesia. As is known, COVID-19 in Indonesia led to challenges in the economic and social sectors. In the early stages of COVID-19, the responses from the government and the public varied, with the government initially exhibiting apathy toward COVID-19. In contrast, the public independently took efforts to manage its spread. A qualitative research methodology was employed in this study. Data were collected through a literature review of relevant books, journals, and news sources. The study illustrated that the government and the public had their respective ways of addressing the spread of COVID-19. Despite the differences in approaches, both entities shared a common goal: to suppress the spread and resolve the issues related to COVID-19. The study briefly demonstrated the changes made by the government in its perception of COVID-19 and how the public's concern evolved. Two value positions emerged between the government and the public. First, when the government did not rely on scientific knowledge to assess COVID-19, it contrasted with a knowledgeable public. Second, when both the government and the public shared similar values regarding COVID-19, but employed different approaches to resolve conflicts. This study enriches theoretical discourse on the relationship between values, care, and public policy, highlighting that value differences between the state and society can serve as a foundation for constructive conflict resolution.

References

Altakarli, N. S., & Tawar, A. (2020). Emergence of COVID-19 Infection: What Is Known and What Is to Be Expected – Narrative Review Article. Dubai Medical Journal, 3(1), 13–18. https://doi.org/10.1159/000506678

Asmarini, W. (2023, June 9). Perhatian! RI Resmi Cabut Aturan Wajib Masker. CNBC Indonesia. https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/news/20230609211445-4-444717/perhatian-ri-resmi-cabut-aturan-wajib-masker

Brons, R. (2019, April 9). Reframing Care – Reading María Puig de la Bellacasa ‘Matters of Care Speculative Ethics in More Than Human Worlds.’ https://ethicsofcare.org/reframing-care-reading-maria-puig-de-la-bellacasa-matters-of-care-speculative-ethics-in-more-than-human-worlds/

Cresswell, J. W. (2009). Research design : qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (3rd ed.). SAGE Publication.

Damayanti, L. P. (2020, July 18). Inisiatif dan Siasat Warga Hadapi Corona – Combine Resource Institution. https://www.combine.or.id/2020/07/18/inisiatif-dan-siasat-warga-hadapi-corona/

de la Bellacasa, M. P. (2011). Matters of care in technoscience: Assembling neglected things. Social Studies of Science, 41(1), 85–106. https://doi.org/10.1177/0306312710380301

Druckman, D., Broome, B. J., & Korper, S. H. (1988). Value Differences and Conflict Resolution. Journal of Conflict Resolution, 32(3), 489–510. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022002788032003005

Engster, D. (2007). The Heart of Justice: Care Ethics and Political Theory. Oxford University Press.

Eurosurveillance, E. (2020). Note from the editors: World Health Organization declares novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) sixth public health emergency of international concern. Eurosurveillance, 25(5), 200131e. https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.5.200131e

Fitra, S. (2022). Rekor Tertinggi, Hari ini Kasus Covid-19 Bertambah 46.843 Kasus. https://databoks.katadata.co.id/datapublish/2022/02/09/rekor-tertinggi-hari-ini-kasus-covid-19-bertambah-46843-kasus-rabu-92

Gandhawangi, S. (2020). Penggalangan Dana Dampak Covid-19 Meluas - Kompas.id. https://www.kompas.id/baca/metro/2020/05/01/penggalangan-dana-dampak-covid-19-meluas

Jaya, I. (2021). Penguatan Sistem Kesehatan dalam Pengendalian COVID-19. In http://p2p.kemkes.go.id/penguatan-sistem-kesehatan-dalam-pengendalian-covid-19/#:~:text=Kasus%20positif%20COVID%2D19%20di,dari%20seorang%20warga%20negara%20Jepang

Joks, S., & Law, J. (2017). Sámi salmon, state salmon: TEK, technoscience and care. The Sociological Review, 65(2_suppl), 150–171. https://doi.org/10.1177/0081176917710428

Kominfo. (2020, March 14). Presiden Teken Keppres Gugus Tugas Percepatan Penanganan Covid-19.

Mohan, B. S., & Nambiar, V. (2020). COVID-19: an insight into SARS-CoV-2 pandemic originated at Wuhan City in Hubei Province of China. J Infect Dis Epidemiol, 6(4), 146.

Norberg, M., & Rucker, D. (2020, April 2). Ada alasan psikologis di balik “panic buying”. Ada cara psikologis juga untuk menghindari perilaku itu. https://theconversation.com/ada-alasan-psikologis-di-balik-panic-buying-ada-cara-psikologis-juga-untuk-menghindari-perilaku-itu-135437

Nugraheny, D., & Meiliana, D. (2023, June 21). Jokowi: Pemerintah Cabut Status Pandemi Covid-19 mulai 21 Juni 2023, Kita Masuk Masa Endemi. Kompas. https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2023/06/21/15110891/jokowi-pemerintah-cabut-status-pandemi-covid-19-mulai-21-juni-2023-kita

Rahadian, L. (2022, May 5). WHO: Korban Meninggal Akibat Covid Capai 16,6 Juta Orang. https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/news/20220505210650-4-336917/who-korban-meninggal-akibat-covid-capai-166-juta-orang

Rasyid, S. (2020, March 31). Warga Jogja Lakukan Lockdown Mandiri, Ini Reaksi Sultan HB X | merdeka.com. https://www.merdeka.com/jateng/warga-jogja-lakukan-lock-down-mandiri-ini-reaksi-sultan-hb-x.html

Reuters. (2020, January 23). Wuhan lockdown “unprecedented”, shows commitment to contain virus: WHO representative in China | Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-who-idUSKBN1ZM1G9

Rigby, J., & Satija, B. (2023, May 8). WHO declares end to COVID global health emergency. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/covid-is-no-longer-global-health-emergency-who-2023-05-05/

Rina, R. (2020, February 11). Terawan: Corona tak Masuk RI, Itu Berkat yang Maha Kuasa. https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/news/20200211162800-4-137044/terawan-corona-tak-masuk-ri-itu-berkat-yang-maha-kuasa

Rokeach, M. (1973). The Nature of Human Values. Free Press.

Sabbatani, S. (2003). Observations on the 1348 plague epidemic. Measures taken to combat its tragic effects and avoid epidemic recrudescence. Le Infezioni in Medicina, 11(1), 49–61.

Sandi, F. (2023, June 14). Catat! Mulai Sekarang Naik Pesawat Tak Wajib Pakai Masker. https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/news/20230614104925-4-445762/catat-mulai-sekarang-naik-pesawat-tak-wajib-pakai-masker#:~:text=Jakarta%2C%20CNBC%20Indonesia%20%2D%20Pemerintah%20sudah,atau%20pesawat%20atau%20transportasi%20umum

Savirani, A., & Prasongko, D. (2020). Kekuasaan, Ilmu Pengetahuan, dan Tata Kelola Penanggulangan Pandemi COVID-19. In COVID-19: Dari Krisis Kesehatan ke Krisis Tata Kelola.

Schwartz, S. H. (1992). Universals in the Content and Structure of Values: Theoretical Advances and Empirical Tests in 20 Countries. In Advances in experimental social psychology (pp. 1–65). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2601(08)60281-6

Sitohang, M. Y., Rahadian, A. S., & Prasetyoputra, P. (2020). INISIATIF MASYARAKAT INDONESIA DI MASA AWAL PANDEMI COVID-19: SEBUAH UPAYA PEMBANGUNAN KESEHATAN. Jurnal Kependudukan Indonesia, 0(0), 33–38. https://doi.org/10.14203/JKI.V0I0.581

Sitorus, A. A., & Rahmadi, M. F. (2021). DISINKRONISASI KEBIJAKAN PEMERINTAH INDONESIA DALAM PENANGANAN COVID-19. Renaissance, 6(1).

Tempo.co. (2021, March 2). Setahun Pandemi Covid-19, Ini Kelakar Pejabat Indonesia Soal Corona - Nasional Tempo.co. https://nasional.tempo.co/read/1437577/setahun-pandemi-covid-19-ini-kelakar-pejabat-indonesia-soal-corona

Tim Kerja Penyakit Infeksi Emerging. (2024). Perkembangan Situasi Penyakit Infeksi Emerging.

Tim Medis Siloam Hospitals. (2023, October 23). Memahami Pentingnya Vaksin COVID-19 dalam Memutus Penyebaran. Siloam Hospitals. https://www.siloamhospitals.com/informasi-siloam/artikel/pentingnya-vaksin-covid-19

Trilla, A., Trilla, G., & Daer, C. (2008). The 1918 “Spanish Flu” in Spain. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 47(5), 668–673. https://doi.org/10.1086/590567

Tronto, J. (1993). Moral Boundaries: A Political Argument for an Ethic of Care. Routledge.

Ulya, F. N. (2023, June 14). Update 14 Juni 2023. https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2023/06/14/20384901/update-14-juni-2023-kasus-covid-19-bertambah-182-dalam-sehari-total-jadi

Verran, H. (1998). Re-imagining land ownership in Australia. Postcolonial Studies, 237–254.

Verran, H. (1999). Staying true to the laughter in Nigerian classrooms. In Actor Network and After (pp. 136–155). Blackwell and The Sociological Review.

Verran, H. (2001). Science and an African logic. The University of Chicago Press.

WHO. (2020, January 30). Statement on the second meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/30-01-2020-statement-on-the-second-meeting-of-the-international-health-regulations-(2005)-emergency-committee-regarding-the-outbreak-of-novel-coronavirus-(2019-ncov)

Widaningrum, A., & Mas’udi, W. (2020). Dinamika Respons Pemerintah Nasional: Krisis Kebijakan Penanganan COVID-19. In Tata Kelola Penanganan Covid-19 di Indonesia: Kajian Awal. UGM Press.

Zahrani, N. (2024, May 28). Kemenkes Sebut Covid-19 di Indonesia Naik, Kenali Varian Terbarunya. Berita Satu. https://www.beritasatu.com/lifestyle/2819148/kemenkes-sebut-covid-19-di-indonesia-naik-kenali-varian-terbarunya

Downloads

Published

2025-07-28

How to Cite

Nugraha, T. A. (2025). The Vertical Problem of COVID-19 in Indonesia: Differences in Concerns and Values between Government and Society. Jurnal Pemerintahan Dan Kebijakan (JPK), 6(3), 127–138. https://doi.org/10.18196/jpk.v6i3.23057

Issue

Section

Articles