PEMILU PRESIDEN DAN INTERVENSI ASING: MENYINGKAP TUDINGAN INTERVENSI RUSIA DALAM PILPRES DI AMERIKA SERIKAT DAN INDONESIA

Abstract

Foreign interventions and the involvement of non-state actors in elections, since their preparations and campaign period is a crucial issue, including in Indonesia, which has simultaneously held legislative and presidential elections on April 17, 2019. Investigations in US court regarding this case have further revealed the alleged Russian interventions through the use of propaganda method of firehose of falsehood with a successful implementation of a covert intelligence operation. The practice that brought about Trump’s victory has alarmed Indonesian people on the possible similar practice in the country. This essay discussed the alleged Russia’s interventions probably occurred in presidential elections in the United Sates and Indonesia. Applying a qualitative method, its data collecting was conducted with library researches. Its findings disclose that foreign interventions by using firehose falsehood propaganda method by widely and intensively spreading hoax in society also vulnerably occurred in Indonesia’s election. Its implications could be serious, not only for the future of the country’s democracy, but also for its political stability and national security as well as its post-election state unity. The author recommends state apparatus and civil society, in addition to the National Election Committee (KPU) and the Election Observer Body (Bawaslu), to immediately respond such kind of propaganda practice, so that they can take preventive actions and address the practice through consistent measures.