Bima Arya Sugiarto is a PhD candidate at Research School of Pacific & Asian Studies, The Australian National University and currently writing a thesis on factionalism in Indonesian political parties. Since 2001 Bima has been teaching at the Department of International Relations Paramadina University Jakarta and was a researcher at CPPS (Centre for Presidential and Parliamentary Studies) Paramadina. Previously he was a lecturer and researcher at the Department of International Relations Parahyangan University Bandung from 1998-2001. His interests include the political development in developing countries, party politics, election and democratization. He holds an MA degree in Development Studies from Monash University (1998) and bachelor degree in International Relations from Parahyangan University (1996). Bima has been involved with various organizational activities and was the President of Indonesian Students Association (PPI) of Australia 2002-2004.
The Theatre of Politics: Actors, Parties & Democratization in Post-Authoritarian Indonesia
What is the best way to analyze the progress of political change? Over the years, the 'Structure, Culture and Actors' question has been the most challenging theoretical issue in political science. Today, this central issue has regained its relevance in explaining Indonesian politics after the fall of authoritarian regime. The process of change has been characterized by the action of political elites who are ironically capable to concurrently promote and abuse the process of democratization. Institutions and rules are created by utility-maximizing politicians whereas cultural identity and ideology have been transformed as political instruments for the sake of power. This paper endeavor to assess the political change in Indonesia by analyzing the role of political actors particularly those in the main political parties.
