Abuse of Power in Local Politics: An Islamic Political Ethics Review of the Probolinggo Case
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46507/jclp.v5i1.834Keywords:
Abuse of Power, Islamic Political Ethics, Local Political Corruption, Moral ResponsibilityAbstract
This study examines the abuse of power in local politics in Probolinggo Regency through the perspective of Islamic political ethics, focusing on corruption in the appointment of local public officials and its implications for regional governance. A qualitative approach was employed using a literature study and document analysis. The study analyzed 20 documents published between 2020 and 2025, consisting of reports from the Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission, national media reports, government documents, and relevant academic publications. Documents were identified through searches using the keywords “Probolinggo,” “public official appointment,” “corruption,” “bribery,” and “local politics” across official institutional websites, academic databases, and national media archives. Documents were selected based on their relevance to the case, publication period, source credibility, and substantive information concerning political and bureaucratic practices. The findings reveal concrete patterns of abuse, including the use of political influence in official appointments, financial transactions associated with positions, and the involvement of political and bureaucratic actors. These practices undermine merit-based selection, weaken accountability, and transform public office from an instrument of public service into a resource for political and economic interests. From the perspective of Islamic political ethics, such practices violate the principles of amanah (trustworthiness), justice, moral responsibility, and leadership integrity. The study concludes that corruption in local official appointments represents both a governance failure and an ethical failure in exercising public authority.
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