Religious Identity in Local Political Contestation on Social Media: A Virtual Ethnographic Study of the 2024 Cilegon City Regional Election
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15575/hanifiya.v9i2.58704Keywords:
local politics, regional election, religious identity, social media, virtual ethnographyAbstract
In local political contestation, religious identity becomes one of the sources of political meaning and legitimacy expressed through values, symbols, practices, narratives, and socio-religious relations on social media. This study examines the use of social media in building the legitimacy of religious identity, its emergence in responding to public issues, and its manifestation in campaign programs in the 2024 Cilegon City Pilkada. This study uses a virtual ethnography method. Data were obtained through observations of the official Instagram and TikTok accounts of the three candidate pairs during September 25–November 23, 2024, and on election day, November 27, 2024. Data include posts, videos, narratives, religious symbols, campaign programs, and user comments. Interviews are used as supporting sources to enrich the interpretation of the findings. The analysis uses Manuel Castells' The Power of Identity perspective as the main foundation, with Circuit of Culture and Identity Negotiation Theory as supporting perspectives. The results of the study indicate differences in sources and orientations in the formation of religious legitimacy. Robinsar displays socially oriented personal piety; Helldy Agustian emphasizes ethical piety and closeness to religious scholars; while Isro Mi'raj displays empathetic social concern. In responding to public issues, religious expression occurs contextually and is not limited to symbols, but is present through attitudes, narratives, and responses to socio-political issues. Religious values are also manifested in political programs, particularly in the fields of religious education, Islamic boarding schools (pesantren), madrasas (madrasahs), and social services. This study concludes that religious identity in local political contestation is a dynamic construct formed through the linkage of religious sources with orientation, actions, and responses to public issues. Social media becomes a space for articulation and negotiation where this construction gains meaning and political legitimacy before the public.
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