Reconstructing Van Meter & Van Horn’s Model: Public Participation in Public Information Disclosure in Gorontalo Province

Abstract

Aims: Public information disclosure is a crucial instrument for promoting government transparency and accountability. However, in Gorontalo Province, the implementation of public information disclosure policy continues to face a gap between formal regulations and actual practice. This study aims to reconstruct the Van Meter and Van Horn policy implementation model by integrating public participation as an external variable influencing policy effectiveness. Methodology: This study employs a qualitative case study approach. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with key policy implementers, analysis of policy documents, and field observations. The data were analyzed using an interpretative policy analysis framework guided by the Van Meter and Van Horn implementation model, with public participation positioned as an external analytical variable. Results: The findings reveal that internal bureaucratic factors such as resource availability, inter-organizational coordination, and implementers’ disposition remain suboptimal. In addition, low levels of public participation weaken social control mechanisms, limiting the effectiveness of public information disclosure implementation. Conclusion: This study proposes a reconstructed policy implementation model that places public participation as a central driver of accountability in public information disclosure. The model contributes theoretically to policy implementation studies and offers practical recommendations for strengthening transparency, accountability, and participatory governance in the context of open government.