Satire as Political Communication: Memes, Humor, and Resistance in Indonesian Political Movements

Abstract

This study investigates satire as a form of political communication within Indonesian political movements, focusing on how memes, humor, and satirical expression function as tools of resistance and civic engagement in digital and public spaces. In Indonesia’s evolving democratic context, satire has become increasingly prominent as a means for citizens to critique political elites, challenge state narratives, and navigate restrictions on dissent. This research examines how satirical content is produced, circulated, and interpreted, and how it contributes to political mobilization, identity formation, and democratic participation. Using a qualitative approach, the study analyzes a corpus of political memes, satirical videos, online commentaries, and protest performances from selected political movements, alongside interviews with activists and content creators. The findings show that satire operates through layered communication strategies, including irony, parody, and exaggeration, enabling audiences to engage with political issues in accessible and emotionally resonant ways. Satirical content also facilitates collective identity and solidarity by creating shared cultural references and enabling symbolic resistance against perceived injustice. However, the study also identifies potential risks, such as the normalization of cynicism, reinforcement of echo chambers, and misinterpretation that may escalate polarization or undermine serious policy debate. The novelty of this research lies in its systematic examination of satire as a deliberate political strategy rather than mere entertainment, integrating theories of humor, digital media, and social movements within the Indonesian setting. The contribution of the study is to advance understanding of how humorous communication shapes political discourse and participation, offering empirical insights into the democratic potential and limitations of satire in contemporary movements. The study concludes that satire can strengthen civic engagement when combined with factual information and inclusive dialogue, and recommends supporting media literacy and critical consumption of satirical content to enhance democratic resilience.