From Law Enforcement to Cultural Security: Integrating Nudge Theory into Collaborative Policing for Intangible Heritage Protection

The safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) faces mounting challenges amid globalization, intergenerational transmission erosion, and declining public participation. Conventional top–down regulatory approaches have proven insufficient to foster sustained community engagement, particularly in cultural practices rooted in symbolic meaning and collective identity. This article examines how Nudge Theory can be integrated into collaborative policing to strengthen ICH safeguarding through non-coercive behavioral change and participatory governance. By usinga qualitative case study conducted at Rumah Singgah Tuan Kadi in Pekanbaru, Indonesia, this research employs participatory observation, in-depth interviews, a limited Delphi process, and policy document analysis. Data were analyzed using thematic coding to identify patterns of interaction between choice architecture mechanisms, collaborative policing practices, and community participation dynamics. The findings reveal four interconnected themes: (1) cultural framing and symbolic activation of public spaces as catalysts for social re-identification; (2) the transformation of police roles from public order enforcers to community facilitators; (3) the effectiveness of nudge mechanisms in cultivating voluntary participation and collective ownership; and (4) a shift in outcomes from conventional public order toward cultural security, reflected in increased trust, strengthened social cohesion, and early conflict prevention. Synthesizing these findings, the article proposes a Cultural-Nudge Policing model that positions police as behavioral catalysts within participatory cultural governance. The primary contribution of this study lies in its original integration of Nudge Theory, collaborative policing, and cultural safeguarding, alongside the conceptualization of cultural security as an expanded policing mandate. By providing empirical evidence from a Global South context, this article advances the literature on behavioral governance and policing studies while offering practical policy implications for culturally grounded policing through program design within the Indonesian National Police, the establishment of cultural units, and the development of behavioral policy laboratories. Overall, the findings underscore the potential of more inclusive, adaptive, and sustainable security governance through the synergy of behavioral change and institutional collaboration.