TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

How Indonesia’s oligarchs turned democracy to their advantage

Wed, September 30, 2026   /   10:00 am

00:00 00:00

Despite decades of democratic reforms following the fall of President Suharto, Indonesia’s political landscape remains shaped by a resilient class of oligarchs. From the national stage to newly decentralized regions, these powerful networks have adapted to dominate the very institutions meant to curb their influence. So, how do Indonesia's oligarchs operate today? Why did the post-authoritarian Reformasi movement fail to dismantle them? And with President Prabowo Subianto now at the helm, is Indonesia's oligarchic system becoming more entrenched -- or can a new generation of reformers still challenge it? Veteran Asia studies researcher Prof Vedi Hadiz of Asia Institute joins presenter Sami Shah to examine the enduring power of Indonesia's oligarchic class, and what it means for the country's economic and democratic future. An Asia Institute podcast. Produced and edited by profactual.com. Music by audionautix.com.