Environmental Movements and Digital Democracy in Indonesia: Social Media Mobilization against Extractive Industries
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65815/mjqene11Keywords:
Environmental movements, digital democracy, social media, extractive industries, IndonesiaAbstract
Environmental movements in Indonesia increasingly use social media to organize campaigns against mining, plantation expansion, infrastructure development, and other extractive activities. Digital communication allows local communities and environmental organizations to connect with national and international audiences, potentially increasing political pressure on government and corporate actors. This article examines digital mobilization by Indonesian environmental movements. Using qualitative social movement and digital discourse analysis, the study explores campaign narratives, visual communication, online petitions, community testimonies, and network formation. The article argues that digital platforms can amplify local environmental grievances and transform geographically isolated disputes into national political issues. However, activists may also face online harassment, misinformation, surveillance concerns, and legal pressure. The study proposes a digital environmental democracy framework emphasizing community ownership of narratives, evidence-based communication, digital security, and institutional responsiveness. The article concludes that environmental movements represent an important form of contemporary democratic participation in Indonesia and that digital communication has become central to their ability to influence public policy.
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