Negotiating Democracy Through Symbols and Social Media: A Thematic Analysis of Political Communication in West Java’s Indigenous Communities

Political communication that occurs in Sundanese indigenous communities in West Java has a distinctive social structure and cultural values, thus affecting the dynamics of communication and political decision-making. In the context of general elections, the dynamics of political communication take place through group communication channels and social media platforms such as WhatsApp where the role of traditional leaders in leading deliberations is still dominant. The purpose of this study is to explain the role of traditional leaders in the political decision-making process, Sundanese cultural values, communication actions, local and national political contexts, and participation of Sundanese indigenous people. This research uses case studies on several Sundanese indigenous communities in West Java. The results showed that Sundanese traditional leaders play an important role in bridging indigenous communities with candidates and the government, providing advice on candidates worthy of election, and encouraging political participation through deliberation and consensus based on cultural values. Political communication is carried out through traditional channels and digital media such as WhatsApp, with community participation driven by respect for customary leaders and awareness of the importance of fighting for rights to religious freedom, customary land, and political freedom. The conclusion of this study shows that the dynamics of political communication in Sundanese indigenous communities are still centered on the customary head, which is characterized by the symbols implied by the words of the customary head when making decisions in supporting certain political party candidates.