The Power of Populism: How Viral Dances Shape Indonesian Politics

Prabowo Subianto, an Indonesian former military figure, has won over hearts with his dancing skills (Gemoy Dances). His performances tap into a deep-seated cultural tradition of music and dance in Indonesian politics—preferably dangdut koplo remixes.

With the power of social media and their established KOLs, Prabowo wins with 58-ish percentage of Indonesian voters (so far) for presidential election.

Populism can be a powerful tool for political mobilization, but it can also be used to manipulate and deceive voters. Deepfake videos are just one example of how this can happen, including the image of Indonesian dictator Soeharto's deepfake video recommending Indonesians to vote for Prabowo above.

Not to mention several deepfake photos or videos showing Putin riding a bear or Kim Jong-un's banging for metal music, the idea of utilizing social media with its cultural trends and AI deepfaking, somehow triggered several morale-conflicting moments in Indonesian presidential elections.

Unfortunately, intellectual politicians are less sensitive to this social behavior. They are too pretentious by prioritizing the dissemination of visions and programs in open debates. Such methods are beneficial for democracy, much likely to engage people in political education, but not good enough to win elections. Today's reality says that in order to win, you must be willing to accept and adopt the tastes of the people.

What does the rise of populism mean for the future of democracy in Indonesia? It's up to youth to demand more from their leaders and hold them accountable.

What do you think about the role of social media in politics? If this phenomenon proved effective in Indonesian politics, does that mean your country's political context could be affected the same?

The answer may differ, but it's up to you to make impact.