The chronic impact of the Cold War and authoritarian regime on communication research

Bibliographic Data

ID21740681
AuthorsJustito Adiprasetio (0000-0001-5698-2013, University of Auckland, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume25
Issue3
Pages164-179
Publication date2025-07-03
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueReview of Communication (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1535-8593 • E-ISSN: 1535-8593
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/15358593.2025.2474643
OpenAlexW4409492715
LanguageEN
Citations received5

There was a connection between America’s efforts to win the sociopolitical battle of the Cold War and Suharto’s New Order authoritarian regime, which influenced the dynamics and development of communication studies in Indonesia. This study shows how global geopolitical tensions synergized with the authoritarian regime, entangling and imparting chronic impacts on the development of communication studies. The discussion begins by highlighting how the Cold War was the foundation for the initial formation and development of communication studies. It continues elaborating on the intersection between American interests and the authoritarian regime’s instrumentalization of communication studies and research. Finally, to illustrate the chronic impact of the Cold War and the authoritarian regime on Indonesian communication scholarship, the author conducts a systematic review of Indonesian scientific publications post reformation from 2001 to 2020. The ambivalence of Indonesian communication academia, which during the New Order had to serve state interests in promoting modernization theory within the vision and programs of development while being prohibited from producing critical research, resulted in a blunted Indonesian communication scholarship. This has had chronic implications, even as reformation has been undertaken two decades later

Authoritarianism · Cold war · Democracy · Political science · Politics · Historical Geopolitical and Social Dynamics · Law

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