A Critical Discourse Analysis of Women, Power, and Social-Political Change in the Indonesian Online News Media Jane Louise Ahlstrand BA Asian and International Studies BA Languages and Applied Linguistics (Hons) A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at The University of Queensland in 2018 School of Languages and Cultures Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences i Abstract In recognition of the increasing relevance of the online news media and women’s political subjectivity to Indonesia’s democratic transformation since the fall of the authoritarian New Order in 1998, this thesis examines the discursive representation of three prominent Indonesian female political leaders and their relationship with power in the political reportage of mainstream online news media site, Kompas.com. The three women in focus are the leader of the ruling PDI-P (Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle), Megawati Soekarnoputri; Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Susi Pudjiastuti; and Mayor of Surabaya, Tri Rismaharini. Situated in the broader historical context of post-authoritarianism, the specific time period of enquiry spans the two-year transition from 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2015, centred upon the fiercely contested 2014 presidential election. By focusing on the mediated representation of three prominent women in the language of the online news media, this thesis aims to interrogate shifting representations of relations of power in a context of social and political change in Indonesia. It aims more broadly to evaluate the implications for Indonesia’s democratisation, the associated role of the Indonesian news media, and identify obstacles and opportunities for women to participate in democratic political life. This thesis presents a new approach to investigating power relations by using language to link the normally discrete fields of politics, media and gender. It also fulfils an urgent need for critical analysis of the rapidly burgeoning role of online news discourse. By focusing on the mediated representation of female leaders as “outsiders” in the male-dominated political realm, this thesis captures a unique view of shifting dimensions of power in a post-authoritarian context. It applies a theoretical framework derived from Critical Discourse Analysis to study the discursive manifestation of power relations. Power is defined as a hierarchical, yet highly fluid relationship among social actors positioned discursively in an interactive power network. Power relations are examined according to a tripartite approach based on the practices of maintaining, negotiating, and contesting power. Social Actor Analysis forms the core methodological framework to study these discourse practices. Through the adaptation of Social Actor Analysis, this thesis identifies unique discourse strategies built upon distinct clusters of social actor representations that function to bridge the micro-linguistic features of the texts with macrostructures of power. Analysis reveals great diversity in the representations of the leaders and their relationship with power, and points to social-political continuity and change. Maintaining power is realised ii through strategies that reflect worldwide trends of personalised political leadership, alongside ongoing practices of authoritarianism that subtly reproduce hierarchical power arrangements. These representations define specific conditions through which to maintain power, by establishing individual authority and control over subordinates. Negotiating power reveals gendered representations interwoven with the broader discourse of political change. Kompas.com reports constrain the women’s agency and highlights their “marked” public status, while portraying them as political norm-breakers and partially relaxing hierarchical relations of power. The practice of contesting power focuses on rumour, conflict, and transgression. Covert strategies of contestation enable Kompas.com to produce reports that fulfil news values of negativity on the basis of insubstantial evidence, while maintaining an apparently objective position in light of ongoing constraints on journalistic expression. These strategies of contestation contribute to a minor rearrangement of power relations. iii Declaration by author This thesis is composed of my original work, and contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference has been made in the text. I have clearly stated the contribution by others to jointly-authored works that I have included in my thesis. I have clearly stated the contribution of others to my thesis as a whole, including statistical assistance, survey design, data analysis, significant technical procedures, professional editorial advice, financial support and any other original research work used or reported in my thesis. The content of my thesis is the result of work I have carried out since the commencement of my higher degree by research candidature and does not include a substantial part of work that has been submitted to qualify for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university or other tertiary institution. I have clearly stated which parts of my thesis, if any, have been submitted to qualify for another award. I acknowledge that an electronic copy of my thesis must be lodged with the University Library and, subject to the policy and procedures of The University of Queensland, the thesis be made available for research and study in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968 unless a period of embargo has been approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. I acknowledge that copyright of all material contained in my thesis resides with the copyright holder(s) of that material. Where appropriate I have obtained copyright permission from the copyright holder to reproduce material in this thesis and have sought permission from co- authors for any jointly authored works included in the thesis. iv Publications included in this thesis No publications included. Submitted manuscripts included in this thesis No manuscripts included. Other publications during candidature No publications during candidature. Contributions by others to the thesis No contributions by others. Statement of parts of the thesis submitted to qualify for the award of another degree None. Research Involving Human or Animal Subjects No animal or human subjects were involved in this research. v Acknowledgements First of all, to my wonderful mother, thank you so much for everything! You have been tremendously giving (and forgiving) my whole life. Doing a thesis was a huge journey and you made sure I kept it together until the end. I am so lucky that you are my mum. To Helen Creese, I am thankful to have worked with you from the initial stages of approaching the PhD right up until submission. You are a true role model for other researchers, and I really felt the benefits of your standards of excellence throughout all stages of the PhD. Hopefully I can continue the tradition of excellence in future. To Marisa Cordella, I don’t know where my thesis would have gone without your guidance. Thank you for your enthusiastic support from start to finish. You believed in me even when times were tough. I wish to be as dedicated and as knowledgeable as you one day. To Guy Ramsay, selamat, xie xie, terima kasih! You are such a kind, wise, and calm person. Your steady guidance helped me get back on track and claw my way out of a black hole. I hope all your dreams come true in future and you can enjoy “pensioner walks” and peaceful living to your heart’s content. I will always remember your kindness. You are the best. Kak Annie Pohlman! You are a rare gem and a friend to so many. I am so glad to have met you, worked with you, and spent so much (too much?) time talking and laughing with you. Your laugh makes me feel that everything is going to be okay, while your subversive mind makes the world a better place. Thank you, Annie! To Barbara Hanna, thank you for all your empathetic support and dedication in your role as Postgraduate Coordinator. You have not only helped me, but many others PhD candidates. We all appreciate your kindness. To Pak Zane, thank you for the extremely helpful advice. I felt really lucky to get such attention. I took your advice to heart, and it truly paid off. Matur nuhun. To Seonkyeong, Chunxuan, Nhat, you are three incredible women with loads of intelligence and inner strength. I truly value the sisterhood we established together in our office. I hope you all achieve great happiness in your personal and professional lives. vi Dearest Nhat, we really forged a strong bond as we started and finished our thesis journey around the same time. I look to you as a role model of perseverance and commitment. More importantly, I look to you as a friend for life. I hope nothing but the best for you in the years to come. Arathy dear, thank you for being my number one dance partner and fellow trouble-maker for the last four years. We have made so many happy memories together. I hope we can dance again soon. Thank you to Oki, with your giant brain and giant hair. You provided me important guidance and trips to awul-awul during my toughest stage of thesis writing, and one of the toughest stages in your own life. I will always remember what you did and remain eternally grateful. vii Financial support This research was supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship. viii Keywords Critical discourse analysis, power relations, online news media, news discourse, politics,