Agency Behind the Vortex of Power: Unveiling the Endeavors of Digital Labors in Opposition to Digital Capitalists

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6463-290-3_16How to use a DOI?

Keywords

agency; digital capitalism; digital labor; Gojek; vortex of power

Abstract

This paper delves into the manifestation of digital capitalism through the lens of Gojek, a prominent exponent of this paradigm. Gojek serves as a notable exemplar of digital capitalism, emblematic of the platform-based sharing economy model. Initially confined to ride-hailing services, Gojek evolution underscores the expansion of digital capitalism’s purview. Integral to its operations are partnerships with two-wheeled drivers, denoted as independent contractors, a characteristic that foregrounds the intricate interplay between capitalists and the proletariat. To comprehensively elucidate the agency exhibited by driver-partners operating within this digital capitalist framework, a qualitative approach is adopted. Methodological tools encompass in-depth interviews and non-participant observations, facilitating a nuanced exploration of the multifaceted dynamics at play. The interplay of diverse forces intricately shapes the realm in which driver-partners operate. Foremost among these forces is the platform itself, which assumes a role akin to a digital capitalist, exploiting labor for its profit-maximizing objectives. Additionally, a patron-client relationship materializes between the platform and the state, contributing to the perpetuation of exploitative dynamics. Moreover, the larger digital society of Indonesia as algorithmic subjects, further entrenching the overarching exploitation inherent in digital capitalism. Amidst this complex backdrop, driver-partners exhibit agency through a spectrum of resistance actions. Their agency is manifested through a fusion of conventional and digital resistance strategies, which together form a robust resistance repertoire against the exploitative forces at play. This nuanced agency underscores the multifaceted responses developed by driver-partners to navigate the intricate web of digital capitalism.

Copyright

© 2023 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Irsanti Widuri Asih
PY  - 2023
DA  - 2023/11/09
TI  - Agency Behind the Vortex of Power: Unveiling the Endeavors of Digital Labors in Opposition to Digital Capitalists
BT  - Proceedings of the 5th Open Society Conference (OSC 2023)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 178
EP  - 189
SN  - 2352-5428
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-290-3_16
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6463-290-3_16
ID  - Asih2023
ER  -