Abstract

This article examines the political discourse of the Minang ethnic group in the Presidential Elections (Pilpres) of 2014 and 2019. In both elections, the Minang candidates did not win nationally but achieved a land­slide victory in the West Sumatra province. This has created a stig­ma for the Minang ethnic group as one with a strong political iden­tity and a province with a hardline stance. This study aims to unders­tand the political discourse of the Minang ethnic group in choos­ing national leaders. The study employs Norman Fairclough's Critical Discourse Analysis approach, which identifies four inter­connected dimen­sions: linguistic, discursive, social, and ideo­lo­gical. This research is a qualitative study using critical analysis methods. Data was collect­ed through in-depth interviews with Minang figures (traditional leaders, religious figures, politicians, academics, and cultural figures). The findings indicate that the political commu­ni­cation of the Minang ethnic group did not undergo a shift in perspective when it comes to viewing leadership issues. For the Minang ethnic group, a leader is highly regarded and given priority. Leaders must possess the qualities of "takah" (personal capacity and capability) and "tageh" (strength and firmness in attitude and action). Additionally, they must be recognized and accepted by the public as prominent figures. The most important factors for the Minang ethnic group in choosing a leader are shared religious beliefs, an egalitarian attitude, and adherence to customary values. The Minang ethnic group is willing to accept political defeat to maintain their belief-based selection of leaders.

Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call