Afdeeling Djember: bureaucratic history of Jember during the Dutch colonial era 1883-1928

Abstract

The bureaucratic system in Indonesia initially began with a traditional feudalistic bureaucratic system which later developed into a colonial bureaucracy. The history of the bureaucracy of Jember Regency is also inseparable from the development of the colonial bureaucratic system. Problems that need to be examined why in Jember during the Dutch colonial period did bureaucratic dualism occur? This research uses historical research methods. The results of this study indicate that during the Dutch Colonial Period of 1883, Jember became a centralized district area separate from Afdeeling Bondowoso. Changing the status of Jember from distric to afdeeling (centralistic district) affected the Jember bureaucratic structure. Afdeeling Djember is led by an Assistant Residentie. However, afdeeling status does not directly make Jember a centralistic district, but there is another independent government called Kepatihan Zelfstandig. Kepatihan Zelfstandig was led by a Patih who came from an indigenous aristocracy. Based on this, it can be concluded that at that time in Jember there was dualism of government in a city. Between the Assistant-Residentie government and Kepatihan Zelfstandig in Afdeeling Jember have an equal position. The duties and authority of the Assistent-Residentie and the zelfstandig governor were somewhat ambiguous. In practice, Patih Zelfstandig and his subordinates tend to work in the field, while the Assistent-Residentie and Dutch officials tend to be advisors and supervisors in governance.