Religious Moderation and Political Communication: The Strategic Role of NU and Muhammadiyah Post 2024 Election

Abstract

The 2024 elections reaffirmed the importance of religion in safeguarding Indonesian democracy. Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, as the two largest Islamic organizations, contribute to shaping public opinion, maintaining stability, and voicing the values of religious moderation. This study aims to analyze the political communication strategies of NU and Muhammadiyah after the 2024 elections, highlighting the narratives of moderation they have constructed, the responses of the public and the media to their religious political attitudes, and the differences in communication approaches between the two organizations. The approach used is descriptive qualitative with a literature study and document analysis method. The findings show that NU tends to utilize symbolic and traditional approaches through the Islam Nusantara narrative, while Muhammadiyah emphasizes a rational-institutional approach through official media and policy advocacy. Although they differ in communication style and channels, both substantively convey moderate, tolerant, and nation-oriented religious messages. These findings reinforce the position of NU and Muhammadiyah as strategic actors in Islamic political communication in contemporary Indonesia.