Populist Communication in Indonesia: The Discourse of ‘People vs Elite’ in Recent Political Movements

Abstract

This study examines populist communication in Indonesia by analyzing the discourse of ‘people versus elite’ within recent political movements, focusing on how populist narratives shape public sentiment, political mobilization, and democratic legitimacy. Populist rhetoric has become increasingly prominent in Indonesia’s political landscape, particularly through social media, mass protests, and political campaigns that emphasize anti-elite sentiments, moral dichotomies, and claims of representing the “true people.” This research explores how political actors construct and disseminate populist frames, how audiences interpret and reproduce them, and how such discursive strategies influence political participation and institutional trust. Employing qualitative discourse analysis of movement speeches, online content, campaign messaging, and media coverage from selected political movements in the last decade, the study identifies recurring themes, rhetorical devices, and narrative structures that characterize populist communication in Indonesia. The findings reveal that populist discourse often relies on simplified moral binaries, emotional appeals, and symbolic language to delegitimize political opponents and elevate movement leaders as authentic representatives of the people. It also shows that populist communication can strengthen collective identity and mobilize participation, while simultaneously undermining pluralism and democratic deliberation by fostering polarization and distrust toward institutions. The novelty of this research lies in its focus on populist communication as a strategic process within civil society movements rather than solely within electoral politics, providing a broader understanding of how populism operates in Indonesia’s democratic public sphere. The study contributes to political communication and democratization literature by offering a context-sensitive framework for analyzing populist discourse and its implications for democratic resilience. It concludes that managing populist communication requires strengthening inclusive public narratives, improving political education, and reinforcing institutional transparency to mitigate anti-elite polarization.