Media-elite interactions in post-authoritarian Indonesia

existence; most notably, on issues that concern the distribution of power among
themselves. During those times of intra-elite contestation – increasingly fought out
in the public sphere – the free and heterogeneous media, either consciously or
otherwise, become promoters of a particular faction of the contesting elite.
Consequently, the dichotomy that those in power (the politico-business elite) are the
‘bad guys’ constantly seeking more power, while the media performing their
watchdog role are the ‘good guys’, is not applicable. How this plays out exactly is
highly contingent on the clash of interests central to any struggle over power fought
out in the public sphere (such as those dubbed ‘scandals’).
Through a set of case studies that examine and map out these relationships
through the analytical focus of scandal I argue the following. First, that the politicobusiness
elite has integrated the media (as an arena and weapon) into their power
struggles over key positions in political institutions and political resources. Second,
that the media are active participants in intra-elite power struggles, that can based
on the vested interests of owners and/or chief editors who decide on whether, and
how, to report on intra-elite power struggles.
Case study selection and approach
The examination of media-elite interactions (that is, the media’s integration into
intra-elite conflicts and their interests in those) in this thesis employs a qualitative
methodology that draws upon primary and secondary research materials and is
directed towards answering the research questions outlined above. Primary
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