Communication style of state leadership and its impact on indonesian military elite relationships

Abstract

Since its independence on August 17, 1945, Indonesia has experienced seven state leadership changes. The seven state leaders have their own communication style in leading the country. Indonesian history has witnessed the important role of the military to achieve independence. The army was entrusted with an important role not only for national defense, but also in the political system to determine state policy together with the state leaders. Nonetheless, the relationship between the state leadership and the military elite is very dynamic. This study examines the variation of communication style of Indonesian state leadership and its impact on military elite relationship during the Old Order, New Order and the Reformation Era. This study has leveraged from qualitative data obtained through interviews with selected informants, document reviews and library research. Analysis of communication styles is based on Edward T. Hall’s perspective. The results showed Sukarno, Habibie, Abdurrahman Wahid, and Joko Widodo used low context communication style, while Soeharto, Megawati and Yudhoyono using a high-context communication style. Soekarno, Habibie and Abdurrahman Wahid failed to control the military elite during their reign. The studyconcluded that variations in communication styles of state leaders had influenced their relationship with the military elite. State leaders who failed in establishing relations with the military elite will experience less military support for their leadership.