Subhan Zein
This article is inspired by Lo Bianco’s theory of discourse planning. Using the case of Indonesia’s second president Soeharto, the article demonstrates the usefulness of Lo Bianco’s theory to understand how language was instrumental in the discourse planning of Pembangunan [Development], and as such, in understanding the nexus of language, power, and politics. The article expands Lo Bianco’s theory by dividing discourse planning into components (i.e. mechanism, tool, agent, technique) which work in tandem in a complex and dynamic manner. The article shows that the examination of discourse planning components helps us to understand the process of ideological structuring to effect changes in people’s mental activity and social reality. It also helps us to understand how language is used to regulate public sphere, particularly in eliminating dissent and manufacturing consent.