FROM PHYSICAL VIOLENCE TO DIGITAL POLARIZATION: RECONSTRUCTING LEGAL RESPONSES TO HYBRID SOCIAL CONFLICTS IN POST-REFORM INDONESIA

Abstract

Indonesia is entering a critical phase in its transition to a digitally integrated economy, yet its existing legal frameworks remain inadequate to address the structural The landscape of social conflict in post-reform Indonesia has undergone a fundamental shift, migrating from localized physical violence to systemic digital polarization. While the state has established various legal frameworks to manage social unrest, these instruments predominantly address conventional physical manifestations, often failing to mitigate the complexities of "hybrid social conflicts." This study identifies a significant legal lacuna: current regulations, such as the Law on Social Conflict Management and the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law, operate in silos. They focus either on physical security or individual cyber-crimes, neglecting the symbiotic relationship where digital narratives fuel physical escalation and vice-versa, leading to a fragmented and often repressive state response. Method using a socio-legal approach and normative legal analysis, this research examines recent case studies of hybrid conflicts in Indonesia. It evaluates the efficacy of existing legal mechanisms through the lens of restorative justice and democratic resilience. The findings reveal that the current punitive-centric legal response inadvertently exacerbates polarization by criminalizing dissent rather than addressing the root causes of digital-physical hybridity. Therefore, this study proposes a "Reconstructed Legal Response" framework that integrates digital literacy mandates, multi-stakeholder mediation platforms, and a revised hierarchy of social conflict intervention that prioritizes de-escalation over incarceration. This research contributes to the global discourse on the "Global South’s" legal adaptation to digital disruption. It argues for a transition from a reactive-punitive paradigm to a proactive-integrative legal framework to safeguard social cohesion in the age of digital volatility.