The Elite Construction Post-Authoritarianism Suharto

Abstract

Suharto's New Order rule has ended with various political and economic dynamics and a vision of progressive development every five years. Suharto's New Order government became authoritarian for the sake of stability built in all regions of Indonesia, utilizing various power networks such as the military, businessmen, and oligarchs, and using Golkar as a political “boat” in every election. After the fall of Suharto, the remnants of elements of power and the oligarchs still existed in the reform era until the current Jokowi administration. The data was obtained through a literature study, a literature review, and in-depth interviews with a qualitative approach. The number of informants who were met was four informants. In addition, the views of scholars who are referred to are also to strengthen the arguments of the ideas that are designed and compiled. In analyzing, this article emphasizes inductive patterns or patterns of relationships between theoretical, conceptual, and empirical relationships. This article identifies how the transformation of the political and business elites, or the classical oligarchy that once lived forever in the New Order era, adjusted the situation and conditions of the political regime. In addition, this paper also shows that there is a phase of elite adjustment that impacts the emergence of a new style of authoritarianism in Indonesia. This article is to see how the elites adjusted themselves after the “Reformasi” in Indonesia with various political maneuvers, either involving themselves in the government or becoming trend setters outside the government until the Jokowi administration era.

Declining democracy: autocratization in Indonesia during the Jokowi years

“…It is because Jokowi is seen as opposed to the domination of the oligarchic elite, which has taken root in Indonesia. However, its emergence was exploited by the old political elite, who adapted to the political system and consolidated with various elements of the old authoritarianism (Taufik et al, 2023). The domination of the elite within Jokowi's power circle has created disappointment for civil society alliances because the policies and actions of the Jokowi government have been contradictory and illiberal (Bland, 2020;Warburton & Aspinall, 2019).…”

“…The domination of the elite within Jokowi's power circle has created disappointment for civil society alliances because the policies and actions of the Jokowi government have been contradictory and illiberal (Bland, 2020;Warburton & Aspinall, 2019). Thus, democracy in Indonesia during Jokowi's administration experienced a setback and has become a deepening phase for elites adapting to the Indonesian political system (Taufik et al, 2023). The decline of democracy continued until the second term of Jokowi's leadership, which showed that he was not committed to democratic values and principles.…”