An institutional analysis of the trans-national marine waste: a case study of sludge oil in Bintan seawater, Kepulauan Riau, Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract Sludge oil has contaminated Kepulauan Riau seawater for a long time ago, but there is no apparent policy by the government to address the problem. The sludge oil has become a critical issue when the government seeks to prevent the effects of climate change. This paper aims to fill the gap in the recent literature of environmental policy by analyzing the issue in an institutional lens. By applying case study research, this paper sheds light on the institutional arrangement of sludge oil problem in Bintan seawater, in particular, organizational design, policy, and norms. Data were gathered by interviewing a dozen of related stakeholders, observing in the three villages, and collecting secondary sources. The results argue that sludge oil is affected by the obscurity of the authority among the governments, the absence of specific policy, and the lack of soft diplomacy with Singapore’s government. This paper contributes to not only the body of knowledge but also the practical point of view by providing several policy recommendations for policymakers to address the issue.