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The research problem addressed in this study is how the political communication strategy of the Indonesian Tionghoa Islamic Association (PITI) influences the nationalism values of its members. This research is qualitative and utilizes a grounded theory approach, allowing researchers to draw generalizations based on inductive observations and analyses of participant interactions and perspectives. The research findings reveal that 1) political communication represents a unique stage of communication with implications for political activities. This distinguishes it from other communication disciplines such as educational communication, business communication, and intercultural communication. The key difference lies in the politically charged substance of political communication, as opposed to the educational content found in other communication disciplines; 2) nationalism stems from the foundational principle of "Indonesian Unity." The nation's founders recognized the importance of unity in achieving common goals, especially in their struggle against colonialism. They were also mindful of Indonesia's pluralistic and regional nature, encompassing diverse islands, ethnic groups, languages, religions, and beliefs, which include members of the Indonesian Tionghoa Islamic Association; and 3) nationalism is also rooted in the principle of "People's Leadership Guided by Wisdom in Representative Deliberations”. This underscores the importance of democracy, which respects divine and religious values. Therefore, the research implications indicate that even though some members still face challenges and obstacles related to the perception of exclusivity within the Indonesian Tionghoa Islamic Association, government outreach efforts are necessary to foster interaction among Indonesian children from diverse backgrounds.

Communication; politics; PITI; Nationalism