ABSTRACT This paper examines the tension between meritocracy and empowerment discourses in Indonesian public universities and its relationship with gender-related leadership representation. The recent emergence of five female rectors signals a change that allows women to undertake leadership roles. We argue that there are two contradictory discourses (i.e., empowerment and meritocracy), which are concurrently visible pertaining to university leadership. The discourse of empowerment promotes gender equity and women’s participation in decision making processes in universities in ways that highlight the historically progressive political agenda of empowerment in Indonesian society. In contrast, the discourse of meritocracy refers to achievement on the basis of individual merit, such as ability and talent. This contradiction is explored through interview data that illuminates the changing conditions of leadership representation in the Indonesian university context. This article makes three contributions to the literature. Firstly, it adds to an underresearched area in higher education in Indonesia. Secondly, it provides a different perspective and analysis of the relationship between gender and higher education by considering both local and international culture. Thirdly, the article offers an argument about the corrosive effect of meritocracy in any university, irrespective of geographical location and local culture.

中文翻译：

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印度尼西亚公立大学的赋权与精英主义话语：女性领导者的案例

摘要 本文考察了印度尼西亚公立大学中精英管理和赋权话语之间的紧张关系及其与与性别相关的领导代表性的关系。最近出现的五名女校长标志着允许女性担任领导角色的变化。我们认为有两种相互矛盾的话语（即赋权和精英管理），它们同时出现在与大学领导有关的领域。赋权的话语以突出印度尼西亚社会赋权的历史进步政治议程的方式促进性别平等和妇女参与大学决策过程。相比之下，任人唯贤的话语是指基于个人优点的成就，例如能力和才能。通过访谈数据探讨了这一矛盾，这些数据阐明了印度尼西亚大学环境中领导力代表的变化条件。本文对文献做出了三个贡献。首先，它增加了印度尼西亚高等教育研究不足的领域。其次，它通过考虑本地和国际文化，对性别与高等教育之间的关系提供了不同的视角和分析。第三，文章提出了一个论点，即无论地理位置和当地文化如何，精英管理在任何大学中都会产生腐蚀作用。它增加了印度尼西亚高等教育中一个研究不足的领域。其次，它通过考虑本地和国际文化，对性别与高等教育之间的关系提供了不同的视角和分析。第三，文章提出了一个论点，即无论地理位置和当地文化如何，精英管理在任何大学中都会产生腐蚀作用。它增加了印度尼西亚高等教育中一个研究不足的领域。其次，它通过考虑本地和国际文化，对性别与高等教育之间的关系提供了不同的视角和分析。第三，文章提出了一个论点，即无论地理位置和当地文化如何，精英管理在任何大学中都会产生腐蚀作用。