University thesis:
Dissertation, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, 2017
Footnote:
cc_by http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.de cc
Description:
Abstract: After the collapse of the authoritarian New Order regime in 1998, Indonesia has embarked to series of political changes. Some significant institutional shifts have implemented in the country such as the enactment of decentralization policy and direct local elections. Responding this development, particular scholarly attention has been given to understand the impact of new institutional arrangements towards elite existence in local democratic arena. Some studies proposing “oligarchy thesis” which argue that the new institutional designs could not significantly change the oligarchical structure of the previous regime and eventually stressed the phenomenon of elite structural continuity. In contrast, other studies suggested a significant impact of new institutional designs on the more competitive nature and diverse backgrounds of local political elites. While the former largely influenced by the structuralist research tradition, the latter stressed the actor-centered approach. Nevertheless, those studies, by and large, have virtually overlooked the more deeply question on how the process of elite adjustment in democratization has taken place, apart from assuming its continuity or discontinuity. Therefore, this study seeks to explore the process of elite adjustment in local Indonesia and tries to examine different pattern of elite adjustment in two cases under study. Pivotal here is the question of why similar institutional reforms and designs of democratizing local political arena led to different outcome of elite adjustment? In order to answer this problem, this research employs eclectic theorizing by assessing structural approach, actor-centered analyses, and ideational elements. Briefly, I argue that local elite adjustment is influenced by three interconnected causal factors laid in the structural factors or institutional context, elite strategic actions, and ideational or cognitive elements. Although having similar background of institutional arrangements producing by democratization, the different mechanisms of interconnection between structural conditions, elite strategic actions, and ideational structure in each case significantly contribute to different pattern of elite adjustment. By scrutinizing this interconnection, this study finds the pattern of “a turbulent adjustment” in one case and “a gentle adjustment” in another. This study finds that-elite discontinuity in terms of their political networks and personnel, heterogeneous socio-cultural structure, the high degree of inter-elite competition, the lack of elite skills and capacities, and the low degree of ideational contestation- lead to “a turbulent adjustment” indicated by a fragile or shaky structure of political elites. In contrast to this development- elite continuity, homogeneous socio-cultural structures, the superiority of political skills and bureaucratic capabilities, the low degree of inter-elite competition, strong coalition building and political networks, and the low degree of ideational contestation- pave the way for “a gentle adjustment” indicated by a tranquil process of adjustment, but inherently tend to assemble a formation of local political oligarchy