Candidates should be aware of the complexities of identity politics

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 146 views

Understanding the Complexities of Political Identity in the 2018 Sumatra Regional Election

Introduction

The 2018 North Sumatra Regional Head Election (Pilkada) was a significant event in the region, marked by the emergence of various identity political issues in political advertisements aired by two candidate pairs, Edy-Ijeck (Eramas) and Djarot-Sihar (Djoss). This study aims to delve into the complexities of political identity in the context of the 2018 Sumatra Regional Election, analyzing how the forms of identity politics are expressed in political advertisements and how the identity issues appear in print media during the campaign period.

The Significance of Political Identity in the 2018 Sumatra Regional Election

The Role of Religious Identity in Political Advertising

In the context of the 2018 North Sumatra Pilkada, the issue of religious identity is very significant. The Eramas couple, for example, explicitly targets Muslims with messages that prioritize their Islamic identity and status as native sons. This is clearly seen in their advertisements that display religious symbols and prioritize support from the Muslim community, with the aim of building closeness and trust among Muslim voters. By emphasizing their Islamic identity, the Eramas couple aims to gain the support of the Muslim community, which is a significant demographic in North Sumatra.

The Inclusive Approach of the Djoss Couple

Conversely, the political advertising of the Djoss couple shows a more inclusive approach. They carry a mixed identity, showing collaboration between Muslim and Christian candidates. This ad is not specifically targeting a religious group, but rather offers an open message, trying to attract votes from various circles, including people who identify themselves as adherents of minority religions. This is a smart strategy considering that this couple is often considered a migrant in North Sumatra. By trying to integrate into the local community, Djoss tried to achieve support from various ethnic groups, especially the Javanese and Batak community.

The Dynamics of Identity Politics in the 2018 Sumatra Regional Election

The Impact of the 2017 DKI Jakarta Regional Election

Furthermore, the analysis shows that the 2018 North Sumatra Pilkada cannot be separated from the dynamics of the 2017 DKI Jakarta Regional Election, where the issue of blasphemy by the former Governor of DKI Jakarta, Ahok, created a broad impact. Djarot, as Ahok's representative, faces the shadow of the issue, which has the potential to disrupt voter confidence. This shows how complex the interaction between identity politics and a greater social context.

The Use of Identity Politics in Political Advertising

This study uses a qualitative approach by collecting data from interviews, observations, and documentation which includes articles, books, and related journals. The results of the study confirmed that both Eramas and Djoss succeeded in utilizing the issue of identity to attract voter support. The advertisements that they show reflect how identity politics is not only a means of campaign, but also creates a deeper division among community groups.

Conclusion

Overall, the 2018 North Sumatra regional election reflects how identity politics can be a determining factor in political advertising. Knowledge of how candidates manage their identity in the context of this campaign provide important insights for voters and political observers in understanding the dynamics of elections in Indonesia. The study highlights the significance of understanding the complexities of identity politics in the context of the 2018 Sumatra Regional Election, and how it can inform future electoral campaigns.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations can be made:

Candidates should be aware of the complexities of identity politics: Candidates should be aware of the potential impact of identity politics on their campaign and be prepared to address the issues that arise.
Media should be responsible in reporting identity politics: Media should be responsible in reporting identity politics and avoid perpetuating divisions among community groups.
Voters should be informed and critical: Voters should be informed and critical of the identity politics used in political advertising and make informed decisions based on their values and principles.

Limitations of the Study

This study has several limitations, including:

Limited scope: The study only focuses on the 2018 North Sumatra Regional Election and may not be generalizable to other elections.
Qualitative approach: The study uses a qualitative approach, which may not provide a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of identity politics.
Data collection: The study relies on data collection from interviews, observations, and documentation, which may be subject to bias and limitations.

Future Research Directions

Future research should aim to:

Examine the impact of identity politics on voter behavior: Future research should examine the impact of identity politics on voter behavior and how it affects the outcome of elections.
Investigate the role of social media in identity politics: Social media has become an important platform for political advertising, and future research should investigate the role of social media in identity politics.
Analyze the impact of identity politics on community groups: Future research should analyze the impact of identity politics on community groups and how it affects social cohesion and unity.
Q&A: Understanding the Complexities of Political Identity in the 2018 Sumatra Regional Election

Introduction

Q&A: Understanding the Complexities of Political Identity

Q: What is political identity in the context of the 2018 Sumatra Regional Election?

A: Political identity in the context of the 2018 Sumatra Regional Election refers to the use of religious, ethnic, and local identity elements to gain support from voters. In the context of the 2018 North Sumatra Pilkada, the issue of religious identity is very significant.

Q: How did the Eramas couple use identity politics in their political advertising?

A: The Eramas couple explicitly targeted Muslims with messages that prioritize their Islamic identity and status as native sons. This is clearly seen in their advertisements that display religious symbols and prioritize support from the Muslim community, with the aim of building closeness and trust among Muslim voters.

Q: How did the Djoss couple use identity politics in their political advertising?

A: The Djoss couple carried a mixed identity, showing collaboration between Muslim and Christian candidates. This ad is not specifically targeting a religious group, but rather offers an open message, trying to attract votes from various circles, including people who identify themselves as adherents of minority religions.

Q: What is the impact of the 2017 DKI Jakarta Regional Election on the 2018 North Sumatra Pilkada?

A: The 2017 DKI Jakarta Regional Election had a broad impact on the 2018 North Sumatra Pilkada, particularly on Djarot, who faces the shadow of the issue of blasphemy by the former Governor of DKI Jakarta, Ahok. This shows how complex the interaction between identity politics and a greater social context.

Q: What are the implications of the study for voters and political observers?

A: The study highlights the significance of understanding the complexities of identity politics in the context of the 2018 Sumatra Regional Election, and how it can inform future electoral campaigns. Candidates should be aware of the complexities of identity politics, media should be responsible in reporting identity politics, and voters should be informed and critical of the identity politics used in political advertising.

Conclusion

The 2018 North Sumatra regional election reflects how identity politics can be a determining factor in political advertising. Knowledge of how candidates manage their identity in the context of this campaign provide important insights for voters and political observers in understanding the dynamics of elections in Indonesia. The study highlights the significance of understanding the complexities of identity politics in the context of the 2018 Sumatra Regional Election, and how it can inform future electoral campaigns.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations can be made:

Candidates should be aware of the complexities of identity politics: Candidates should be aware of the potential impact of identity politics on their campaign and be prepared to address the issues that arise.
Media should be responsible in reporting identity politics: Media should be responsible in reporting identity politics and avoid perpetuating divisions among community groups.
Voters should be informed and critical: Voters should be informed and critical of the identity politics used in political advertising and make informed decisions based on their values and principles.

Limitations of the Study

This study has several limitations, including:

Limited scope: The study only focuses on the 2018 North Sumatra Regional Election and may not be generalizable to other elections.
Qualitative approach: The study uses a qualitative approach, which may not provide a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of identity politics.
Data collection: The study relies on data collection from interviews, observations, and documentation, which may be subject to bias and limitations.

Future Research Directions

Future research should aim to:

Examine the impact of identity politics on voter behavior: Future research should examine the impact of identity politics on voter behavior and how it affects the outcome of elections.
Investigate the role of social media in identity politics: Social media has become an important platform for political advertising, and future research should investigate the role of social media in identity politics.
Analyze the impact of identity politics on community groups: Future research should analyze the impact of identity politics on community groups and how it affects social cohesion and unity.