Struggle to Gain Representation: Mixed Politics in Democratising Indonesia

Abstract

Democratisation in post-Suharto Indonesia has significantly improved political participation, lifting expectation of bringing better political representation. However, various studies prove that such representation is unable to be immediately achieved since the existing democratic institutions remain dominated by oligarchic groups. The societal struggle to gain representation, therefore, is increasingly becoming a critical issue in contemporary Indonesian politics. This article discusses the dynamics of such struggle through the strategy that we have developed and called 'mixed politics'. This refers to the blurring of borders between civil and political society, as well as formal and informal institutions.