Spiral of Silence Theory in Indonesia

Elizabeth Noelle-Neumann is a professor emeritus of communication research Institute fur Publiziztik Germany. He has introduced a spiral of silence theory. This theory first appeared in 1984 in his writings, entitled “The Spiral of Silence”. Essentially, this theory would like to answer the question, why people from minority groups often feel it necessary to hide the opinions and views are in the majority group? In other words, they often hide “something" when they are in the majority group.

Individuals who are in the majority group often feel it necessary to change the opinion. Because, if they do not change its opinion, they will be feel alone. This fact can be observed on individual immigrants in a community group. They need to feel like the silent majority of the group for behind the opinion itself. They even felt the need to change in accordance with the majority of the group where they are.

Focus of Noelle-Neumann study is the role of this opinion in the social interaction. As we know, public opinion as an issue controversial will thrive when presented through the mass media. This means that public opinion people also formed, organized, reduced by the role of mass media. So, there are close linkages between the opinions of the mass media. Opinion is growing in the majority of the group and someone tends to silent (the basic theory as a basis spiral of silence) because he come from minority groups can also be influenced by issues of mass media.

To explain this theory can be illustrated in the case in Indonesia. In Indonesia, there are two large groups agree with the practice of democracy that does not.

For a group that pro-democratic practice, the practice of political democracy is the most good at this time. Democracy will make Indonesia will be a prosperous nation in the future. Other assumption, that the society is the main pillars of the country, then democracy must be run in various aspects of life. While, the opponent for the Democratic group, said that we already have in their own way and set the state of Indonesian society. We have “Pancasila” and our nation emphasize in unity important (Bhineka Tunggal Ika/unity in diversity). Democracy will only threaten the harmony of life for this. Some of Muslim said that Islamic Democracy is the best.

Many of difference of that opinions discourse not only in daily discourse but also through the mass media. Two opinion that pro and contra equally strong. However, in line with developments and changes in world politics, the idea of democracy that can be ultimately victorious. They who reject the democracy began earlier soften. Then, Muslim intellectual accept that democracy too. Their reason is that in Islam there is democracy Meanwhile, a group that was more democratic opponent choose silent. The majority opinion is the growing support of the practice of democracy in Indonesia.

Currently, almost non-existent people who are straight-out reject the practice of democracy in Indonesia. They are used to reject the democracy fellow in the group, differences in opinion began to hide, still and even started to support the idea of democracy.

In Noelle-Neumann’s observation, called the incident such as the "Spiral of Silence." That case is also observed Noelle Neumann in the general election in Germany on an 60-year supporter of the Social Democratic party with the Christian Democrats.