The study builds on Deborah Stone’s foundational work exploring the mechanics of causal narratives and their implications for framing problems, assigning responsibility, and guiding policy solutions. The purpose of this research is to unravel the complexities of causal narratives in contemporary politics and understand their profound influence on public policy and society at large. In the digital age, where information is abundant and the traditional gatekeeping role of media has diminished, causal narratives have become increasingly multifaceted. The study aims to explore how these narratives, influenced by the intersections of natural phenomena, human actions, politics, risk, and media, shape public understanding and policy directions. The study employs an extensive review of existing literature, covering works from political science, media studies, and public policy. This includes analyzing seminal texts like Deborah Stone’s “Policy Paradox” and recent studies on media’s evolving role in political discourse. Today’s causal narratives are multifaceted, influenced by a myriad of factors including political agendas, scientific findings, and media portrayals. In conclusion, the research highlights the dynamic nature of causal narratives in the digital age and their significant impact on public policy and societal outcomes. It underscores the need for nuanced understanding and strategic approaches in crafting and interpreting these narratives.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of Indonesia's defense industry policy from 2018 to 2023, focusing on PT Pindad, a pivotal state-owned defense enterprise. Using a Balanced Scorecard (BSC) framework, the study assesses PT Pindad’s performance across financial, customer, internal process, and learning and growth perspectives. The findings reveal strengths in financial stability (Current Ratio at 115.57% in 2023) and customer satisfaction, but challenges in Return on Investment (ROI), which fell from 6% in 2022 to 5.46% in 2023, signaling a need for further internal improvements. A mediation analysis using Shape-Restricted Regression indicates that Research and Development (R&D) serves as a crucial mediator, enhancing the impact of strategic alliances and technology transfer on PT Pindad’s self-reliance, with R&D showing a positive coefficient of β = 0.53 (p < 0.01). The systematic literature review complements these findings, underscoring the role of technology transfer, human capital development, and strategic partnerships as essential components for strengthening PT Pindad’s self-reliance and global competitiveness. Recommendations are made to enhance policy effectiveness by fostering robust technology transfer mechanisms, increasing investment in human capital, and expanding strategic partnerships. This research contributes to the literature on defense industry policies by providing a comprehensive evaluation framework that informs future policy decisions.

This research aims to determine the factors driving the success of four large cities in Indonesia in implementing Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) infrastructure policies beyond the eight TOD 3.0 Principles. Only a few studies like this have been conducted. The research uses qualitative methods and is supported by in-depth interviews with stakeholders, community leaders, community groups, and service users. The research findings reveal six themes: policy dialogue, organizational structure and coordination, changes in community habits, resources, dissemination and communication, and transportation and connectivity services. The characteristics of the community in the study area that prioritize deliberation are important determinants in policy dialogue and are involved in determining policy formulation. The city government has established a comprehensive organizational and coordination structure for the village and sub-district levels. The Government controls infrastructure development activities, establishes a chain of command and coordination, and encourages people to change their private car usage habits. The city government combines all this with the principle of deliberation and conveys important information to the public. The research highlights the differences in TOD implementation in Indonesia compared to other countries. Specifically, the existence of policy dialogue and the direct involvement of community members influence the level of program policy formulation and are crucial in controlling urban infrastructure development.

This paper aims to analyze the narratives that have emerged in the process of bureaucratic reform in Indonesia. The analysis is conducted using the Narrative Policy Framework at the mesa level. Using data from articles published in 6 credible national media about “bureaucratic reform” from 2010 to 2023. The collected data was classified according to the Narrative Policy Framework (NPF) elements in the article: Issue setting, the cause of the issue, plot, character (villain, victim, hero), and recommendations for solutions offered. There were 31 articles analyzed. The result showed that the main plot in the process of bureaucratic reform in Indonesia is based on the corrupt bureaucracy and the slow public service provided. The victims in the plot are the people who will access the services. The villains of the narrative are civil servants who do not improve the required competencies. The heroes of the narrative are several government institutions (Ministry of State Apparatus Utilization and Bureaucratic Reform, Commission of Corruption Eradication, and The Audit Board of The Republic of Indonesia) that are considered to expose the problem.

This study aims to explore the link and match policy through industrial classes and its impact on the competence and employability of Vocational High School (VHS) graduates. The importance of this research is to address the gap between education and industry by assessing the effectiveness of industrial classes in improving the skills and employability of VHS graduates. Horison Industrial Class (HIC) in 4 schools, namely: (1) SMKN 57 Jakarta, 2 batches of Hospitality expertise programs; (2) SMKN 6 Yogyakarta, there are 3 batches of Hospitality expertise programs; (3) SMKN 6 Semarang, there are 2 batches of Hospitality expertise programs; (4) SMKN 2 Semarang. This research emphasizes the important role of industry involvement and commitment in aligning the curriculum with industry needs. The field findings show that the implementation of the link and match policy through industrial classes significantly affects the quality of learning in VHS. The study also highlights the influence of government support and industry associations in ensuring the successful implementation of industrial classes. Student participation in industry classes directly enriches their learning experiences by allowing them to engage in direct practice in a real work environment. These findings can contribute to the implementation of policies and regulations in the field of education, especially in the context of vocational education. The findings of this study can also be applied to vocational students to improve the quality of graduates in order to meet the qualification standards of employees in companies or industries.