Political Communication in Indonesia: Media Performance in Th ree Eras

Th is chapter examines political communication research in Indonesia during three political periods: (1) President Suharto’s authoritarian regime, which lasted from 1967 to 1998; (2) the downfall of Suharto’s regime during the May Revolution in 1998; and (3) the reform era, which began in 1998 and became internationally known as reformasi. In addition, the chapter will briefl y address the role of the mass media in Indonesia’s 2004 general election.