Hendri Satrio Releases Book "Ideological Relay from Sumitro to Prabowo", Examining the Construction of Ideology Between Father and Son

Political communication analyst Hendri Satrio (Hensa) has released his third book, titled “Estafet Ideologi Sumitro ke Prabowo” (Ideological Relay from Sumitro to Prabowo), on Wednesday (10/6/2026). The book examines how the ideology of economist Sumitro Djojohadikusumo is currently being interpreted by his son, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. “I wrote the book ‘Ideological Relay from Sumitro to Prabowo’ in an effort to try to understand what Sumitro’s thinking at that time, as translated by Mr Prabowo today, looks like, how great it is, and then how massive the very significant differences are,” said Hensa at the book launch held at Paramadina University, Jakarta. The founder of the KedaiKOPI Survey Institute stated that the book was written using a public communication approach. He believes this approach can show the flow of Sumitro’s thoughts implemented by Prabowo in a more fluid manner. “This relay should also not be interpreted as Sumitro handing a baton to Mr Prabowo, but I interpret this Relay as Mr Prabowo taking the baton from Sumitro to continue his ideas in prospering Indonesia,” Hensa explained. The event was attended by several figures, including Minister of Cooperatives Ferry Juliantono, Chairman of Commission XI of the DPR Mukhamad Misbakhun, and Head of the Agency for the Acceleration of Poverty Alleviation Budiman Sudjatmiko. A number of academics were also present as respondents, such as economist and Chairman of the Paramadina Waqf Foundation Wijayanto Samirin, University of Indonesia economist Ninasapti Triaswati, and Paramadina University lecturer Wachid Ridwan. Ferry Juliantono stated that currently not many dare to discuss ideology. According to him, ideological discussion rarely becomes a public discourse nowadays. “It is rare to find a book that discusses ideology, so we must give Mr Hendri Satrio a thumbs up; he has the courage to talk about ideology, which currently, in my opinion, is rarely discussed in public discourse,” said Ferry. Misbakhun, who opened the book launch event, opined that Hensa’s work attempts to document Sumitro’s thoughts on a populist economy. “This book is an effort to document an ideological thought from Mr Sumitro Djojohadikusumo, the father of President Prabowo, which is a populist economic thought, translating Article 33 of the Indonesian Constitution and then how that economy is operationalised,” said Misbakhun. Meanwhile, Budiman Sudjatmiko interpreted the theme “ideological relay” as a fundamental principle for Prabowo Subianto about the importance of doing the right things. He stressed that this ideological guidance is crucial so that every correct belief can always be executed in the right way. “The theme of this ideological relay is interesting because ideology is fundamentally about doing the right things. The main point is how Mr Prabowo can believe that what he is doing is the right thing, so that truth is also executed in the right way,” said Budiman. University of Indonesia economist Ninasapti dissected the book and found that the continuity of the economic vision is implemented institutionally with adjustments to the nation’s strategic and security challenges. “Sumitro’s thinking was then translated into the Asta Cita, which is Prabowo’s Development Programme, but with an emphasis on the importance of strengthening the defence and security framework in accordance with the state foundation of Pancasila, democratic principles and human rights,” Ninasapti revealed in her presentation. Paramadina University lecturer Wachid Rahman assessed that Hendri Satrio’s book successfully highlighted the ideological construction process that occurred between economist Sumitro Djojohadikusumo and Prabowo Subianto. “This book is good in the context of how the ideology possessed by Mr Sumitro is transferred and constructed into Mr Prabowo. There is a very attached identity in Mr Sumitro, namely a socialist, but I do not know where it has been constructed into Mr Prabowo today, which identity that has become,” concluded Wachid.