Oligarchic Hegemony and the Crisis of Party Representation in Indonesia
Keywords:
Democratic representation, Hegemony, Indonesia, Oligarchy, Political partiesAbstract
This study examines the paradox of political parties in Indonesia’s post-Suharto democratic transition by analyzing the gap between their formal democratic functions and their practical political behavior. Although political parties are institutionally designed as instruments of representation, political education, and popular sovereignty, in practice they have increasingly functioned as mechanisms of elite consolidation, oligarchic control, and patronage distribution. This research employs a qualitative socio-political approach using documentary analysis, discourse analysis, and comparative political economy. The analysis applies Gramscian hegemony theory, cartel party theory, and elite theory to explain how political parties have shifted from democratic institutions into hegemonic structures that normalize money politics, transactional politics, and elite domination. The findings show that these weaknesses are systemic rather than incidental, rooted in oligarchic capital, weak internal party democracy, and limited civil society oversight. Meaningful reform requires structural changes in party financing, internal democratization, and stronger civic control.
Abstrak
Penelitian ini mengkaji paradoks partai politik dalam transisi demokrasi Indonesia pasca-Soeharto dengan menganalisis kesenjangan antara fungsi demokratis formal dan praktik politik yang terjadi. Meskipun partai politik secara kelembagaan dirancang sebagai instrumen representasi, pendidikan politik, dan kedaulatan rakyat, dalam praktiknya partai semakin berfungsi sebagai sarana konsolidasi elite, kontrol oligarki, dan distribusi patronase. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif sosio-politik melalui analisis dokumen, analisis wacana, dan ekonomi politik komparatif. Analisis menggunakan teori hegemoni Gramsci, teori partai kartel, dan teori elite untuk menjelaskan bagaimana partai politik bergeser dari institusi demokratis menjadi struktur hegemonik yang menormalisasi politik uang, politik transaksional, dan dominasi elite. Temuan menunjukkan bahwa kelemahan tersebut bersifat sistemik, berakar pada modal oligarkis, lemahnya demokrasi internal partai, dan terbatasnya pengawasan masyarakat sipil. Reformasi yang bermakna memerlukan perubahan struktural dalam pembiayaan partai, demokratisasi internal, dan penguatan kontrol publik.
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