1 Accepted version. “We care about others”: Discursive constructions of corruption vis-à-vis national/cultural identity in Indonesia’s business- government relations Kanti Pertiwi Universitas Indonesia/The University of Melbourne kanti.pertiwi@ui.ac.id Abstract Purpose – This paper aims to problematize existing conceptualisation of corruption by presenting alternative perspectives on corruption in Indonesia through the lens of national/cultural identity, amidst claims of the pervasiveness of corruption in the country. In so doing, the paper also shed light on the micro-processes of interactions between global and local discourses in postcolonial settings. Design/methodology/approach – The study applies discourse analysis, involving in-depth interviews with 40 informants from the business sector, government institutions, and anti- corruption agencies. Findings – The findings suggest that corruption helps government function, preserves livelihoods of the marginalized segments of societies, and maintains social obligations/relations. These alternative meanings of corruption persist despite often seen as less legitimate due to effects of colonial powers. Research limitations/implications – The snowballing method of recruiting informants is one of the limitations of this paper, which may decrease the potential diversity and lead to the silencing of different stories (Schwartz-Shea and Yanow, 2013). Researchers need to contextualize corruption and study its varied meanings to reveal its social, historical, and political dimensions.