Sports in the shadow of the coup: a historical qualitative study

Introduction: Sports in Indonesia have a long history as part of national development and the formation of national identity, especially from the independence revolution to the reform era. During the reign of President Soekarno, sports were interpreted as an ideological tool to form “revolutionary humans” in line with the political vision of anti-imperialists. However, the September 30 Movement events in 1965 (G30S/PKI) marked a turning point in the national power structure, including the sports sector. Objective: This study examines the impact of post-coup politics on the stability and development of national sports by placing sports as a political arena integrated into the dynamics of an authoritarian state. Methodology: This study uses a historical qualitative approach with a document analysis method. The primary sources come from official state archives. The study utilized hermeneutic methods and source criticism to assess the authenticity, historical context, and ideological bias of documents such as presidential decrees, legal products, and archival media coverage. Results: The results show that the post-coup regime utilized sports as a tool for social engineering by integrating the military into sports institutions, limiting civilian-based organizations, and directing sports as a symbolic stage for state legitimacy. Conclusions: The recommendations of this study emphasize the importance of a more political and critical exploration of sports history, as well as the need for decentralization and democratization of sports institutions in the present as a reflection of the legacy of authoritarian control in the past. These findings provide a foundation for policymakers to design inclusive and equitable sports policies grounded in historical understanding and aimed at countering past authoritarian legacies. The implications of this study not only broaden the perspective in the study of sports history but also provide a basis for analysis for policymakers to formulate inclusive sports policies that are oriented towards social justice.