Masih Takut: The Psychology of Fear in the Development of Indonesian Social Movements

This thesis offers a contemporary investigation of the extent to which historical contexts contribute to Indonesian people’s reservations towards political conversations and social movements, such as protests and demonstrations. The historical contexts in question are focused on the Soeharto dictatorship from 1966-1999 and its long reign of censorship, citizen violence, and general human rights violations. The research employs a mixed-methods approach focused on cultural and participant observation, social media analysis, and interviews. Social media analyses offer insights into activism, particularly that of students and the youth, that are not generally available in scholarly sources. Interviews with Indonesian citizens and local political leaders share the diverse perspectives on electoral fairness, protest efficacy, and overall political awareness. The findings highlight the wide ranging beliefs toward the state of the Indonesian government, its political figures, and whether citizens should feel fear in their quotidian lives or not. A brief explanation of the Pancasila’s ideals and how they shape Indonesian society elucidates a sociopolitical factor that may promote the reservations present in citizens’ outlooks on their political sphere. Despite limitations in access to reliable archives and language proficiency, this research contributes valuable insights into the psychological standpoints of Indonesian citizens regarding their own expressive freedom and safety.