ABSTRACT

This paper aims to describe the role of traditional elites in modern politics today. For this, the traditional elites serve as the primary data source by using the technique of in-depth interviews and document study as data collection techniques. Furthermore, phenomenological qualitative analysis techniques used to reveal the role of the traditional elite. The findings of this paper are: (1) as a source of authority, (2) as a system of norms, (3) a party developers, (4) as a conflict resolver, (5) as a source of power of the masses.

Key words: traditional elite, political party.

INTRODUCTION

Golkar party victory in the 1999⁽¹⁾ elections gave an impression that the political situation in South Sulawesi hasn’t much changed. It was assumed that the major factor in the election victory of the Golkar Party in South Sulawesi is the utilization of indigenous elites in mobilizing the masses. The issue of mass mobilization in the 1999 elections Golkar figure raises BJ Habibie (citizens of South Sulawesi) as a candidate for president⁽²⁾. The personal culture is paternalistic culture heritage. Traditional paternalistic culture is a traditional culture that still prevails in Bugis Makassar ethnic as the major.

Cultural patronage in South Sulawesi illustrates the relationship between the elite and the masses⁽³⁾, namely the mass adherence to their elite. In Makassar and Bugis people was known relationships “Joa-ajjoareng”. Ajjoareng means an identical model or “Ponggawa” which is an important figure and the axis of the activities people around him. They follow and obey his willingnes⁽⁴⁾. His followers called Joa or Sawi. Golkar’s victory over due to utilizing the power of indigenous elite in the paternalistic culture.

Involvement of the indigenous elite in the politics development at South Sulawesi is an interesting thing to be studied scientifically, especially in the aspect of political sociology, and others that assessment footing indigenous elite’s role in the development of political parties in South Sulawesi people haven’t been identified through scientific research. Yet to identify an elite role in the development of indigenous political party a pluralistic society that has the nature of communal and heterogeneous character of the social strata. It is particularly interesting to get an overview of the political sociology perspective on the role of indigenous elites in the development of political parties in the opening of post Order new political order with a change. In the political system of a society that has thirty two years locked in an authoritarian era, with a pseudo democratic system tend to be mobilized by the government for political legitimacy. According description above, this paper is intended to reveals the role of indigenous elites in modern politics in South Sulawesi.

RESEARCH METHODS

This study is classified as qualitative descriptive research and a case study approach. The collected data used triangulation techniques which were analyzed through inductive and qualitative. Research results emphasize the meaning rather than generalizations (Sugiyono).⁽⁵⁾

The primary data is also the key informants are on the indigenous elites that board of some different political parties, namely: Golkar party, PKB party, PAN party, PDIP party, PBB party, etc.

The data were collected through instruments as follows:  (a) depth-interview; (b) observation, and  (c) a document study. The procedure of the validity of qualitative data used four aspects as follows: (a) credibility, (b) transferability; (c) dependence; (d) conformability (Moleong).⁽⁶⁾

The data were analyzed through some techniques as follows: (a) data collection, (b) data reduction, (c) the presentation of data; (d) verification and making conclusion. (Miles and Huberman)⁽⁷⁾

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

1.   Local norms as a source of authority

In every society there are always rules and guidelines which the attitudes and behaviors that are considered to be obeyed because of the belief that the rules were inherited from their ancestors. The rules were passed down (inherited) for generations of other generations through an educational process that usually begins in the family.

AR (traditional elite of PBB party) gave the view that the size of the norms influence in someone’s life, is determined by how the norms undergo a process of internalization into the system of an individual personality, knowledge of the relevant customs obtained in the process of socialization which is essentially the process experienced by a person who learned to run a role in the group in which he is a member, for certain people it has become more customary rules attached to him so that he obtained the rule automatically and feel guilty if he doesn’t implement the custom.

At first it was combined with indigenous beliefs held by the indigenous peoples concerned so that it is seen as the creation or sourced from the unseen world. The consequences was caused by the sanctions will not only be felt by the person who commits an offense but also is likely to be experienced by the rest of society.

In the meanwhile, the perception of AP about norms in his party, it was realized that the people of South Sulawesi culture still adheres to some matters relating to customs like “Pabbicara” (Speecher) is a part of “Pangadereng” (Norms) that needs are addressed, especially for the elite that want to socialize customary when a political party programs, because “Pabbicara” function or relating to question the judicial functions of the person’s rights as a legal subject, Pabbicara has essentially repressive function which is a reaction to the perceived actions violate the norms.

Even at the time of the party campaign, AB (politician of PKP party) reminded every campaigner for carefully removing utterances that could connote “Maboro” or arrogant that could result in a lack of response from the people in the area because people still believe that the promises spoken in front of many people to be considered fulfilled if not useless talk and deceive society is something that is categorized mabusung act. (According to the beliefs of the Bugis ethnic, that people who is “Mabusung” or arrogant, so its stomach will be swollen and eventually erupt). This sanctions is always taught to generations. Actually, only “Rapang” or a parable that are expected to apply preventive so that people are not honest promises.

According to AA as informant ( traditional elite of PBB party), that formerly the violation of the customs that were threatened by the severity of sanctions prescribed by the public perception of the size of the effect is expected to be caused by the breach. To ensure compliance with the customs, authority of the ruler is the highest. Bugis Makassar communities have confidence that the king is a descendant of “To Manurung” that King of “Maddara Takku“ or bloody white so that if the King is not adhered to the concerned person could be “Mabusung” or damned.

Among the people of South Sulawesi, “Ade” (norms) is still one of the rules and guidelines which using to act and behave. “Ade” essentially has a preventive function to prevent the occurrence of the things that are contrary to the implications for indigenous people that destroy the balance of social life, so “Ade” covers all aspects of South Sulawesi society life.

• Norms system as cultural elites in the political parties

South Sulawesi society in general still oriented on three systems are sourced from indigenous cultures (Ade’), religion (Islam, Christianity, other believeness), and Nationalist. In certain cases the three culture systems that still coexist, autonomously and supported by society⁽⁸⁾.

The orientation of the three culture systems appear in the attitudes and behavior of traditional elites in their activities. In observation of any existing research activities in the formal political parties (meetings, discussions, etc.) in which the traditional elite party at five every action and behavior that tends to give priority to existing customary rules of Bugis-Makassar. For example, at PDIP party meeting of the board to evaluate the work, so the board recommended that each participant should be expressed their speech with good manners that consider the culture, and the recommended banned any blasphemous solve problems of others, or talk about people in public disgrace because it is Siri. Other party give priority to Islamic culture systems such as PAN party, PBB party, PKB party, in general each party activities cultivated always read verses from the Quran at the beginning of its activity even encouraged Muslim dress. Another case in PKP party, any formal action begins with the national anthem Indonesia Raya according to evoke the spirit of the unity of the party members. But the majority parties priority values ​​and rules of Indonesian.

Based on the three systems each culture of traditional elite has a different argument. For example, AP assumes that such customary manners when the arrival of an important guest or caretaker of the center is usually treated with a culture of South Sulawesi. All of it is kept repertoire community and a legacy of a next-generation to generation and this is the main attraction for her political party.

Another assumption from AY (traditional elite of PAN party), and US (politician of PBB party) as the Islamic-based party, argued that any political party’s daily activities in a civilized Islamic matters as researchers find that any official papers letters of the party starting with sentences that invite driven by the common good traditions prophet, or any party activities that separate between women and men, all of which are manifestation of its own political party propaganda not only the affairs of state (temporal) but also the hereafter so that no reward value.

AB (traditional elit of PKP party), based on nationalist political parties has different attitudes toward the party culture system. According to him that loved homeland awareness does not necessarily leave the party culture but in its every activity begins with a sentence such as the patriotic phrase “independent” according to him it has been a trade mark for the party to evoke the spirit of the party members.

Someone’s personality manifest in attitudes, behaviors or actions when dealing with others. Attitudes, behaviors and actions rooted in culture systems that internalized by the individual concerned, the difference in the attitude of the indigenous elite behavior according to researchers over a system of personality tendencies. This means that there are a number of elite in attitude, behavior and action tend to be more oriented by system of Bugis Makassar culture or Islamic culture systems, or Indonesian systems culture, but it does not mean that the traditional elite only internalize a particular cultural system without knowing a little even certain parts of other cultural systems. Overall the traditional elite hoped that in every aspect of the lives of the local people of South Sulawesi elite still play a role even traditional elites do not just seen as an individual who does not understand that traditional politics, religion, and the country’s problems.

• Development of political parties

Traditional elite has shifted towards the role after the change of conditions of traditional elite that used to be a political tool for political parties to maintain the status quo and view any change as a threat. On the other hand there is a new elite which plays a role as well as the launch of renewal. Generally speaking traditional elite, the religious elite, elite displaced by the new role (nationalist elite) who was born as the political elite that its political career earned through achievement not because of heredity or because of ideology.

Traditional elite that makes the management of political parties in South Sulawesi are by and large has been active in political parties before (PPP, Golkar, PDI), the number of traditional elites involved in the political parties now recognized the AP, as a normal and an individual’s right to exist in politics, but realize that not all of which have a political mass base but only the perception among the public that it has a strategic indigenous elite to maintain, protect, subordinates.

The phenomena shows that all the political parties in South Sulawesi involving traditional elite as a caretaker. According to key informants that such involvement was based elites still considered to have the power of indigenous masses that can make the choice to develop especially the party is a party of the newly formed party. According to him that compared with the New Order period (3 parties) elite when it focused (the majority) in the Golkar political party that so he said, people often slip that Golkar party identical with “Karaeng” Group.

After the New Order elite dissemination in various newly formed political parties in South Sulawesi, it couldn’t be denied the fact that, it takes a lot of traditional elite by political party. The findings of research based on 5 key informants namely AM (PAN party), AP (PDIP party), AB (PKP party), the US. (PBB party) and AS (PKB party). Obtained from the amount 453 of party members, it consist of 103 number of traditional elit  (five political parties).

The interviewing with the AP shows that there are an error during this time, the traditional elite only be used as a political vehicle by Golkar party because of the many traditional elite in the party only a handful who become representatives of the people do not even exist at all. According to the traditional elite only needed when going to the election campaign.

Furthermore, AP understands the position that the role actually be time for the next generation diverted but as a multi-party and the party is the result of the internal conflict that created the New Order he survived the grounds provide political education and maintain the integrity of the party to the independent position and win in elections.

In this regard, i analyzed that the structure of individual character belongs to the traditional elite could also directly related to the social structure of religious, economic, military, political. Even more remote indigenous elite has ambitions to continue to have a role in the political parties. Where human beings as unique due to the presence of a particular constellation of biological organisms, physical structure, and each one’s role in the structure of the character, the entire biological human is equipped with a psychic from a variety of feelings, sensations, and impulses are nested in the human organism.

In this case i observate to the persistence of traditional elites play a role in a political party is even willing to move to other parties who had always been him as caretaker. According to AB that Golkar party is but a change in the political order so he resigned from the Golkar party to PKP party with various political considerations. According to the analysis of me that AB as the indigenous elite has a psychic sensations and of course have other desires leadership and the desire to rule is the focus in any human behavior as being unique in the sense of an indigenous elite of a historical development.

Traditional elite as part of the change order, he had to create his own towards his own fate respond to the situation experienced, situation and experience is the result of a complex history in which the elite must play a role. This is why he does not create his own destiny as individuals but the indigenous elite to merge all the activities of political parties.

4. Conflict resolution

The conflict in the political parties in South Sulawesi could be identified both internally and externally. Internal conflicts between related parties in the caretaker Regional Leadership Council and conflict-based political party with the provincial capital district.

Based on interviews with several prominent political parties such as: PAN party , PDI-P party, PKP party, PBB party, and PKB party, there are at least some cases of internal conflict, in the early DPW officials PAN party of South Sulawesi, internal conflict where two camps are felt to have the right to form a branch of PAN party in South Sulawesi. So is the internal conflict in the PDI-P party, the DPW board with PDI-P party board in the District. While internal conflict of PKB party with the board between DPW PKB party with the DPP chairperson disabling in Jakarta.

At the same time, PKP party and the PBB party internal conflict is not sticking to the surface, but according to both parties whose names are internal party conflict there must only be muted quickly. Moreover, the five parties are new parties must have a great chance of conflict for the sake of the party’s internal improvements. With the conflict in some parties would require completion, one of the resolution of the conflict is the role of indigenous elites dampen the conflict as a whole can be described cases occurred.

The datas revealed that when the early fall of KH. Abd. Rahman Wahid as President of the Republic of Indonesia, other regions in Indonesia demonstrations demanding Gusdur resigned because of his allegations of corruption. South Sulawesi known as a hard character does not occur a large demonstration. Results indepth interview at the Secretariat of the PAN party that supporters Gus Dur with AS. The conditions of South Sulawesi which ranges demonstration at this time could be muted with the elite consolidation of existing customs and dipartai other indigenous elites outside the system.

Meanwhile, the indigenous elite in the PBB party that reduce conflict in South Sulawesi is inseparable from the role of indigenous elites socialize the way out he said other forces of the traditional elite rethoric which is proportional to the true charismatic and his speech only able to follow people (Adanna tongeng) as mouthpiece at traditional society with a ruler.

It is also experienced by AP to me argued that the conflict in a political party is something natural thing in the world of politics. In conflict resolution, the role of traditional elites in their party AP  immediately signed him because he was able to finish it. According to key informants i confirm this problem that AP is the revered, respected, (toyasiri) so that the internal party conflicts tend to be resolved quickly.

I had observated during a wave of demonstrations in South Sulawesi role that traditional elite in political parties quite large when the party members suggest responding to the desire of students took to the streets several PDI-P party officials advised members (non-traditional elite) should ask for consideration to AP. The picture is the completion of the internal-conflict external conflict while the party elite custom party to resolve problems, both PAN party, PDI-P party, PKP party, PBB party, regarded as traditional elite “ajjoareng” that internal conflicts resolved by way of indigenous culture which is the culture of South Sulawesi Siri. So “Joa” in political parties hear and obey, and always shows his loyalty for the indigenous elite keep and cherish “Siri”.

According to AS that his political party’s internal conflicts quickly resolved if each “joa” want to understand what “ajjoareng” advised unless the nature of embarrassing and damaging the image of his political party.

5. Mass mobilization

Activities in political parties don’t independent of how an tradotopma; elite to understand the environmental conditions, not just making the community as a means to pressure the government if no party objectives to be achieved. According AMA (traditional elite of PKP party), the traditional elite role at the time of the election because the people of South Sulawesi patronage system still adheres to what the political leaders stands to mass follow, what elite custom ordered.

When the campaign running, most elite only serves to mobilize the masses so very meaningful role in the party, especially when needed rally. For example, a political figure of the indigenous elites moved the entire mass party but follower or “Minawang”. According to AB, it happens because of a lack of political education so that society just see what a role model figure. Thus, only the mass mobilization associated with role models and based on political consciousness.

CONCLUSIONS

1. The changes in the political condition, with the raising political parties in South Sulawesi then that naturally recruit some elites with their mass. This factors led many traditional elite channeled their political aspirations to the new party in South Sulawesi. In the New Order, the traditional elites only distributed their attitudes and participation to three political parties, but at the time several political parties declared in Jakarta, it also has implications in the region, especially South Sulawesi. Strategically, making party in region is also future parties would have to find a figure that has a mass of only righteousness traditional elite.
   1. Culture, means as factor status in South Sulawesi is still appreciated adhered to elite status as the traditional nobility certainly feel should remain at a level above the layer of society is thus one way is to participate in engaging themselves in political parties being formed.
   1. Prestige, there are desire maintaining a form of psychic traditional elite who have always wanted to be respected, appreciated that formally indigenous elite should be involved in political parties, in order to maintain the prestige.
   1. Political education, this factor as the implications of the political consciousness of traditional elites want to understand the democratic political education that could be obtained through the container political party.

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