Political Economy Communication Perspective: The 'Relationship' between Capitalism and Illegal Logging in Riau, Indonesia

Abstract

This paper aims to explain the 'relationship' between capitalism and illegal logging in Riau. The relationship is built on the character of the essence of capitalism that 'greed'. The immediate implication of this character produces cultural issues of illegal logging. To examine and dissect this phenomenon is used Political Economy Communications perspective. This perspective is constructed by a shortage of Political Economy that cannot explain the phenomenon of communication actors policy makers and businessmen who support illegal logging. While the Political Communication can not understand economic phenomena [rentier or reward] relationship between the actors and the policy-makers cause of illegal logging. This paper uses a qualitative approach based on the study of documents. Data was analyzed using descriptive qualitative. Therefore, this paper is an analytical to provide input on the relationship between capitalism as an ideology and illegal logging as activity [behavior] actors involved in it. Results of the discussion paper indicates that: [i]. Capitalism has a significant correlation and causality to damage the forest environment. The relationship is built on the character of the essence of capitalism that 'greed'. The immediate implication of this character generates a culture of illegal logging. Then the illegal logging that is what led to the emergence of the season in Riau. Among them, the flood season, smog and erratic weather and air temperature heats up the all representation of Riau future. [ii]. Philosophical statement 'Riau forest is our home’ as to support the efforts of law enforcement actors in Riau, so earnest muzzle of illegal logging. Spirit 'Riau forest is our home' is a symbol of the struggle of law enforcement actors [police, Judiciary and Justice] suppress the crime of illegal logging in Riau simultaneously. The parable illegal logging is a common enemy lists society is another language in real fight 'Riau forest belongs to all'. The essence of this paper is to emphasize the importance of the perspective of Political-Economy-Communications in an attempt to understand the phenomenon of Capitalism and Illegal Logging relationship as brainstorming in reducing environmental damage forests in Riau.

Keywords: Communication, Capitalism, Economy, Illegal Logging and Politics