Balancing Optimism and Realism: Indonesia’s Urban Youth’s Political Engagement in the 2024 General Elections
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17977/um021v9i12024p1-19Keywords:
urban youth, political engagement, 2024 general elections, IndonesiaAbstract
The discourse around youth political participation often seems pejorative. Many earlier studies
continue to emphasise youth political apathy, a notion that has long been debunked. Others
reduce urban youth’s political engagement to merely digital activism, largely due to recent
information and technological advancements. However, this research presents a more nuanced
view, arguing that the current political engagement of urban youth is characterised by a balance
of optimism and realism. An online survey of 205 Indonesian youths from various cities was
conducted to gauge their perspectives on political participation, including their views on the 2024
general elections. They were asked to examine some sets of statements as descriptions and
explanations of their political stances. The results suggest that urban youth in Indonesia are keen
to be politically active, including in the 2024 general elections. They stay informed, regularly
following political news and candidate debates, signalling hope for a healthier democracy.
However, they remain pragmatic, recognising the flaws in politics, such as corruption, inefficient
administration, and political dynasties, which they view as the “dirty side” of politics. This dual
perspective reflects a more complex political stance, where youth are motivated to participate yet
grounded in the reality of the political system’s imperfections.
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