MIMBARMIMBAR, , Vol. Vol. 37, 37, No. No. 1 1stst (June, (June, 2021), 2021) pp.pp 119-126119-126 Inter-Island Mobility and Social Change in Tidore Kepulauan City, North Maluku 1MUHAMMAD TAURID YAHYA, 2DARMAWAN SALMAN, 3SUPARMAN ABDULLAH 1Departement of Sociology, Graduate Program, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Hasanuddin University; Researcher, Center for Regional Analysis (PuSAR), North Maluku-North Sulawesi, Indonesia 2Departement of Agriculture, Hasanuddin University, Indonesia 3Departement of Sociology, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Hasanuddin University, Indonesia Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan KM.10, Tamalanrea Indah, Kec. Tamalanrea, Kota Makassar–Kode Pos: 90245 E-mail: [email protected],[email protected],[email protected] Abstract. This research uses a qualitative approach to explore inter-Island mobility and social change in Tidore Island, North Maluku. Data obtained from observations and interviews show that social change in Tidore occurred due to the dynamic factors of cross-island population mobility in recent years. Data were divided into groups of those who are working semi-permanently and those who are commuting to work (commuters). The main factors triggering inter-island population interactions in Tidore City are the need for labor supply, basic commodities in the food and logistic sector, as well as support services from several groups. Conversely, this town is the center of government services with labor suppliers in the formal sector (government) and service economy. It also depends on certain commodities that can only be supplied from the surrounding Island (Halmahera). The research analysis shows that infrastructure (transportation) availability contributes to the intention of local government and the community to create new economic centers in the form of regional commodity markets and additional ports to support population mobility as active mediators for the sustainability of socio-economic development in this region. Keywords: inter-island mobility, social change, commodity, tidore island Introduction interest groups and social institutions are involved. Geographic mobility in the region with an archipelago background has distinct Indonesia is an archipelagic state, characteristics. Therefore, there is a need characterized by numerous islands or series to implement an alternative approach to of land connected by the sea. It is a maritime the study of inter-island mobility because continent proven by its marine and aquatic entities aligned with islands. In several mobile population with a history of high historical literatures, it is extremely evident socio-economic networks. that the archipelago maritime civilization is the main foundation for the identity network of The population is the primary basis for Malay, Islamic empire, and commercial ports the development of capital and movement that were established since the pre-modern of commodities in a region. In this context, period of Southeast Asia. Additionally, it was the study of population mobility includes once a global seaport (Salman, 2016; Reid, examining the economic structure of 2019). an archipelagic region and establishing its networks and patterns of productive In the historical context, the North dependence, in which the state and various Maluku province, particularly the Tidore Received: November 07, 2020, Revision: April 15, 2021, Accepted: June 16, 2021 Print ISSN: 0215-8175; Online ISSN: 2303-2499. DOI: https://doi.org/10.29313/mimbar.v37i1.6912 Accredited Sinta 2 based on the decree No.10/E/KPT/2019 until 2024. Indexed by DOAJ, Sinta, Garuda, Crossreff, Dimensions Accredited by Sinta Rank 2 based on Ristekdikti No.10/E/KPT/20 119 YAHYA. et.al. Inter-Island Mobility and Social Change in Tidore Kepulauan City, North Maluku Island, has been occupying a strategic mobile commodity suppliers to meet the position in the maritime trade network since communities’ needs in Tidore Island. This the 17th century. It was one of the four largest condition shows that economic relations and Islamic sultanates during the pre-colonial community development in Tidore Kepulauan era and had regional partnerships with West City (TIKEP) do not only automatically act Papua as well as economic links to Europe in as a regional mediator between producers the 17th and 18th centuries (Lapian, 2009; and consumer nodes. In fact, economic Widjojo, 2007; Andaya, 1993). communities in these regions (Tidore and Halmahera) serve as regional connectors The city of Tidore Kepulauan (TIKEP that ensure economic sustainability since for short) is a relatively new “island these two islands are a functional medium city”, characterized by a cluster of small for the mobility of population, technology, archipelagoes in the northern part of and commodities. Maluku. Administratively, Tidore Kepulauan was originally incorporated into Halmahera These facts are perceived as a new Tengah Regency (Halteng). However, in socio-economic space that dynamically early 2000, it broke away and became an facilitated the population mobility in the autonomous municipality with its capital Tidore region and its environs. However, Soasio. the characteristics of inter-island economic crossings are often perceived and handled As an autonomous city, Tidore has as limited, irrespective of the fact that been extremely progressive in building its cross-border activities aid to develop basic economy in recent years. However, changes functions that ensure sustainable growth in in various sectors provide a new space of local these areas (Agusta, 2013; Usman & Sairin, development where the quality of livelihoods 2017; Lalamentik, et.al, 2018). of local community improved and became more productive. Furthermore, the use of Population mobility is the most relevant local market opportunities has succeeded key factor in development. According to in facilitating regional mobility. As a result, Tjiptoherijanto (2000), it is “an integral there is an active market network in almost part of the development process. Mobility all islands connected with Tidore town. social structure of an area. Therefore, the Population mobility from Tidore development process cannot exist without Kepulauan to Halmahera in order to work in population mobility. Similarly, there tends various formal and informal sectors is clear evidence of social change in this region. without dynamic developmental activities.” The movement of goods (inter islands) is carried out using medium-sized ships with a Operationally, various forms of capacity of approximately 60 people to the population mobility are measured based on Garolaha market in Tidore City. In the larger the concept of space and time. Theoretically, the basic concept of time is measured six- the development of areas around this island hourly or more, for example, when a person has succeeded in triggering the growth of or group of people leaves their homes or new markets as well as strengthening the original area and returns on that same balance between supply and demand in the day. Furthermore, the choice of staying at region. a place is measured by the duration from when an individual or group of people leave In addition, the city of Tidore is a their homes or starting point for more than productive supplier of human resources (HR) a day, and less than six months. However, in the region, particularly those employed for permanent mobility, it is measured by in various government agencies or private the length of time, when a person leaves the sectors in Halmahera. On the contrary, original area which tends to either last for six communities in this island are consumers of months or more, except for those that intend Halmahera’s basic commodities, while the to remain in the destination (Mantra, 2012; Garohala market serves as the transaction Romdiati & Noveria, 2019). center. This research proffers two central Territorially, this market, which is questions, namely (a) the manner in which situated in Tidore, is the center of economic socio-economic processes occur in a situation activities in the region. The islanders where inter-island mobility is the determining from Halmahera are forced to become factor for the availability of commodities 120 ISSN 0215-8175 | EISSN 2303-2499 MIMBAR, Vol. 37, No. 1st (June, 2021), pp. 119-126 and services requested by the government Results and Discussion and local communities, and (b) the forms of Population Mobility in Tidore social change that emerges from population dynamics as well as the interaction between Tidore Kepulauan City is characterized economic players in providing a number by a cluster of numerous small island in the of basic commodities involving the local northern part of Maluku (North Maluku) land. government and inter-island trading groups. Administratively, it was originally merged to the district of Halmahera Tengah (Halteng), although in the early 2000s it separated Research Methodology and became a municipality with the capital in Soasio. Historically, Soasio was the former capital of Irian Barat (1956) where from April to June 2019 and from February Sultan Tidore of Zainal Abidin Sjah was the to May 2020. Tidore Kepulauan City was Governor of Papua Barat and was appointed chosen based on two reasons, namely (1) in by President Soekarno (Presidential Decree recent years, population mobility from Tidore No. 142/1956, dated 23 September 1956). to Halmahera has grown rapidly, irrespective of the fact that the role of the government Geographically, the Tidore Kepulauan