<![CDATA[Abstrak Demokrasi Indonesia pascareformasi menunjukkan konsolidasi institusional, namun kualitas demokrasi substantif masih diperdebatkan, terutama terkait latar belakang pendidikan anggota DPR yang dianggap memengaruhi kapasitas representasi politik dan prinsip meritokrasi. Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis krisis meritokrasi dalam rekrutmen politik serta bagaimana isu pendidikan legislator dikonstruksikan dalam wacana publik dan ruang digital. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan metode Analisis Wacana Kritis (Fairclough) dan analisis framing (Entman). Data diperoleh dari media daring nasional, diskursus media sosial, serta dokumen resmi DPR dan Badan Pusat Statistik pada periode 2019–2024. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa isu pendidikan anggota DPR menjadi simbol krisis meritokrasi dalam demokrasi Indonesia. Wacana publik digital dan media arus utama saling memperkuat kritik terhadap dominasi oligarki dan rendahnya transparansi rekrutmen politik. Oleh karena itu, diperlukan peningkatan transparansi profil legislator, reformasi rekrutmen politik berbasis meritokrasi, serta penguatan ruang publik digital sebagai sarana pengawasan demokrasi. Kata kunci: demokrasi digital, meritokrasi, oligarki, representasi politik. Abstract Post-reform Indonesia has experienced institutional democratic consolidation through regular elections and the functioning of representative institutions. However, the substantive quality of democracy remains debated, particularly regarding the educational background of members of the House of Representatives (DPR), which is often associated with political representation capacity and meritocratic principles. This study aims to analyze the crisis of meritocracy in political recruitment and examine how the issue of legislators’ educational background is constructed within public discourse and digital spaces. The research employs a qualitative approach using Critical Discourse Analysis (Fairclough) combined with framing analysis (Entman). Data were collected from national online media, social media discourse, and official documents from the DPR and the Central Statistics Agency during the 2019–2024 period. The findings indicate that the educational background of DPR members has become a symbol of the meritocracy crisis in Indonesian democracy. Digital public discourse and mainstream media mutually reinforce criticism of oligarchic dominance and the lack of transparency in political recruitment. Therefore, this study recommends improving transparency regarding legislators’ profiles, reforming political recruitment mechanisms based on meritocratic principles, and strengthening digital public spaces as a platform for democratic oversight. Keywords: digital democracy, meritocracy, oligarchy, political representation.]]>
