Harmonizing Voices of the Archipelago: AICCON 2025 Brings Together Global Experts in Makassar
The Indonesian Association for Communication Higher Education (ASPIKOM), in collaboration with the Department of Communication Science at Hasanuddin University (UNHAS), once again hosted The 5th ASPIKOM International Communication Conference (AICCON 2025) on 30 July 2025 at Unhas Hotel & Convention, Makassar.
This year’s theme, “Harmonizing the Voices of the Archipelago: Communication Transformation for Social, Economic, and Maritime Cultural Advancement,” intertwines Indonesia’s diverse voices with the urgent need for communication transformation to advance social, economic, and maritime cultural development. Topics addressed ranged from social resilience, preservation of digital narratives, and strategic communication in economic development, to media and information literacy, environmental communication and sustainability, intercultural maritime communication, innovation for development, governance and communication policy, as well as marketing and public relations strategies.
The conference welcomed experts from both Indonesia and abroad. Dr. Ammar Redza Ahmad Rizal from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, attending in person, presented communication strategies in support of marginalized communities. He emphasized that effective social change strategies should integrate collaborative approaches with the diffusion of innovations theory, while addressing power imbalances, social norms, and individual readiness. He highlighted the need to empower minorities, engage local opinion leaders, and enhance digital literacy to prevent the public from falling into echo chambers and polarization.
From Indonesia, Prof. Dr. Phil Sukri, M.Si (Dean of FISIP UNHAS) delivered a keynote speech underscoring that a healthy, inclusive, and participatory democracy cannot thrive without open and honest communication. He reviewed Robert Dahl’s five pillars of substantive democracy—effective participation, voting equality, enlightened understanding, control of the agenda, and inclusiveness—stressing that these pillars depend heavily on adequate access to information and healthy communication.
Another Indonesian speaker, Dr. Muliadi Mau from the Department of Communication Science UNHAS, discussed multicultural communication and the challenges of digital fragmentation. He noted Indonesia’s unique diversity, home to over 70,000 ethnic groups and 8,000 languages. To achieve harmony in a multicultural society, he proposed the concepts of the “universal person,” “multicultural person,” and “intercultural person,” with cross-cultural communication as the key.
In addition to in-person sessions, AICCON 2025 also featured international speakers online. Prof. Gerard Goggin from University of Sydney, Australia, joined via video conference to discuss digital citizenship and digital inclusivity, stressing the need for inclusive digital platforms so that all citizens, including persons with disabilities, can enjoy social justice.
From the University of the Philippines Open University, Dr. Benjamina Paula G. Flor focused on maritime communities and development communication strategies in coastal regions, highlighting how communication can empower maritime communities and preserve the archipelago’s maritime cultural heritage.
Dr. Prakrit Rakwong from Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, examined the dynamics of political communication and media in Thailand, noting the impact of digital media on democracy and the need for regional collaboration to tackle misinformation.
The complete lineup of plenary international speakers included Prof. Gerard Goggin, Dr. Ammar Redza Ahmad Rizal, Dr. Benjamina Paula G. Flor, Dr. Prakrit Rakwong, and Dr. Muliadi Mau. Their participation—both in-person and online—opened a dialogue on contemporary issues ranging from digital inequality, multicultural communication, and political communication to the empowerment of maritime communities. Each session concluded with an interactive discussion, giving participants the opportunity to exchange ideas and broaden their global perspectives.
The combination of physical and virtual participation bridged global perspectives with Indonesia’s local context. This aligns with the theme “Harmonizing the Voices of the Archipelago”—weaving together diverse voices to drive communication transformation for social, economic, and maritime cultural advancement. The topics presented, from social resilience to communication policy, serve as a roadmap for academics and practitioners seeking to build an inclusive, fair, and sustainable communication ecosystem.
With its strong roster of international speakers, AICCON 2025 proved to be more than an academic forum—it became a platform for global idea exchange, offering fresh insights to participants from across Indonesia. The conference reaffirmed the commitment of ASPIKOM and UNHAS to positioning Makassar as a hub for international communication in Southeast Asia and fostering cross-border collaboration to advance communication for the well-being of society.
