DIMENSI ETNO-POLITIK PEMEKARAN WILAYAH DAN PILKADA BEBERAPA CATATAN DAN PEMIKIRAN
ABSTRACT: The events
surrounding Suharto’s resignation in May 1998 and its aftermath pararelly
followed by the occurrences of communal conflicts in several places such as
Maluku, Central Sulawesi and Kalimantan. Interestingly these communal conflicts
also occurred at the same time with the process of splitting of the district
territories (pemekaran) that were accelerating under the implementation of the
new law of decentralization and regional autonomy in 2001. This paper utilizing
the political demography perspective is a preliminary attempt to look at the
possible linkages between ethnodemographic configuration and the communal
conflict within particular geographic administrative boundaries and its
repercussions on the process of pemekaran. As the implementation of the direct
election of the local governmental head (Pilkada) is currently underway the
paper also provides some notes on the ethno-political dynamics of this regional
version of people’s direct election. The paper argues that ethnicity is
mattered in the process of pemekaran and could be manipulated by the local
elites in their attempt to obtain mass support during the Pilkada. More
systematic research however is needed to better understand the complex nexus
between ethnicity and local politics in Indonesia.
Penulis: Riwanto Tirtosudarmo
Kode Jurnal: jpantropologidd050025