Critical Reflections On Political Communication As Civic Education: Anies Baswedan’s “Desak Anies” And The Formation Of Student Democratic Consciousness In The 2024 Presidential Election

Political communication serves as a tool to influence audiences in the dissemination of political messages. One prominent form of such communication is through campaign strategies that enhance public awareness and participation, particularly among younger generations. The "Desak Anies" program, initiated by Anies Baswedan during the 2024 General Election campaign, exemplifies targeted political communication aimed at students, representing Generation Z. This study examines the effectiveness of the "Desak Anies" program in promoting political awareness and fostering student participation in democratic processes. A descriptive qualitative methodology was employed, combining literature review and secondary data analysis from relevant sources. Findings indicate that the program successfully engages students with national issues and motivates active involvement in political activities, particularly elections. Importantly, the program functions not only as a one-way communication channel but also as an interactive platform facilitating dialogue between political leaders and the younger generation. These results underscore the significance of adaptive and participatory communication strategies in delivering political education in the digital era. Keywords: Political Communication, Civic Education, Youth Political Participation, Deliberative Democracy, Political Campaigns.