Symbolic Power in a Technocratic Regime: The Reign of B. J. Habibie in New Order Indonesia

This article examines the technocratic and political influence of B.J. Habibie during the New Order era. His ascendance in power is generally attributed to his relationship to Suharto. This assumption is qualified here, and an attempt is made to identify the sources of Habibie's power using Bourdieu's concept of symbolic power. Two main aspects are analysed: the symbiotic mutualism between Habibie and Suharto, and Habibie's ties with Muslim modernists. The objective is to comprehend how different forms of power are transacted within the political structure of the New Order.