Political communication in Malaysia: a study on the use of new media in politics. eJournal of eDemocracy & Open Government, 1 (7). pp. 46-71. ISSN 2075-9517 (2015)
Abstract
To gain and retain political power, politicians use the media to persuade the masses to vote and support them, especially during elections. Barisan Nasional (BN) has successfully used the media to maintain its power for the past 57 years, making it the longest-serving elected government in the world still currently in office. However, the emergence of the Internet has challenged the status quo. The purpose of the research was to investigate how new media has influenced the political process and communication strategies in Malaysia and its impact on the political landscape. The researcher interviewed 19 respondents: politicians, bloggers and media consultants from both sides of the political divide. The findings showed that new media, especially Web 2.0, has expanded the public sphere and enabled more
Malaysians to participate in the democratic process, through information dissemination, mobilisation or crowd-sourcing. However, the cyber-war between BN and the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) has caused confusion and disinformation, affecting the quality of democratic decision-making. Nevertheless, new media has enabled more voices to emerge and challenge the political hegemony. Communication is increasingly two-way, with the public expecting greater engagement and interactivity with their political representatives. The Internet and social media have led to unprecedented complexity in the political communication process in Malaysia. External factors such as the electoral system and political institutions play a part in determining whether ideas spread by social media can find fertile ground in the polity which can ultimately bring about political change.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Social media, Political communication, Democracy, Campaign, Web 2.0, Social Influencers, Media psychology |
| Taxonomy: | By Subject > Communication & Media Studies > Strategic Communication > Public Relations > Asian Politics By Subject > Communication & Media Studies > Strategic Communication > Public Relations > Mass Media & Society |
| Local Content Hub: | Subjects > Communication & Media Studies |
| Depositing User: | Muhammad Shafiq Amirullah |
| Date Deposited: | 04 May 2021 08:24 |
| Last Modified: | 04 May 2021 08:24 |
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