Indonesia faces a number of serious and urgent challenges in the area of maritime security; including, Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, Maritime Plastic Pollution, and serious Transnational Organised Crimes such as human trafficking and forced labour. One figure in Indonesian politics stands out for her efforts to eradicate these crimes, Susi Pudjiastuti, the Indonesian Minister for Marine Affairs and Fisheries since 2014. Minister Pudjiastuti has been remarkable both for her enforcement of previously-unutilized laws to seize and destroy illegal vessels, and her use of social media to promote awareness and action within the general public. The thesis takes a mixed methodology approach to measure and analyse Pudjiastuti’s strategic use of LSPR
iisocial media as a key weapon in her fight against crime in the maritime sector. Through quantitative and qualititave analysis of Pujiastuti’s Instagram and Twitter posts, the thesis reveals a very high level of influence, awareness-raising and engagement with her message. Her innovative used of social media indicates a new paradigm of direct, transparent political engagement with the public that sets a high benchmark for other Indonesian leaders and politicians.
Keywords: social media, communication, susi pudjiastuti, maritime security