Article Komunitas: International Journal of The Role of Expansion Indonesian Society and Culture 9(1) (2017): 115-135 DOI:10.15294/komunitas.v9i1.7710 Movement in the © 2017 Semarang State University, Indonesia p-ISSN 2086 - 5465 | e-ISSN 2460-7320 Establishment of New Region http://journal.unnes.ac.id/nju/index.php/komunitas UNNES JOURNALS in Indonesia: A Study of Parigi Moutong Regency Muhammad Nur Alamsyah 1, Valina Singka Subekti2 1Universitas Tadulako, Palu, Sulawesi Tengah, Indonesia 2Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia Received: 2 November 2016; Accepted: 24 February 2017; Published: 30 March 2017 Abstract The study explains the dimension of the structure of resource mobilization in the political movement of new region establishment in Indonesia. The establishment of new regions has been seen only in the utilization of formal structures. In fact, the involvement of non-formal organizations also contributes to the importance and determines a region expansion. The study employed a qualitative approach with the support of pri - mary and secondary data related to the establishment of Parigi Moutong Regency. The data was obtained through in-depth interviews with the group figures of the expansion. The secondary data was obtained from mass media and government agencies as well as personal documentation. The theory used was the dimen- sion of the resource mobilization structure of the political opportunity structure (POST) theory. The study reveals that the success of the expansion movement in Parigi Moutong Regency for their structure resource mobilization by civil society organizations or non-formal to formal institutional build up pressure by using lobbying based on personal, professional and primordial networks. The influence of national political re - forms motivated and mobilized the mobilization of movement resources as a repetition of the movement that had taken place in the previous expansion movement in Parigi Moutong Regency. Keywords movement; group; expansion; local politics; mobilization structure. INTRODUCTION issue and political agenda. The widespread demands of regional autonomy are often The problem of forming new regions in accompanied with mobilization and raise Indonesia remains as a latent problem ethnic sentiments. Considering the process in the political issue of central and local of incorporation of old state in Indonesia government relationship (Benyamin which is characterized by primordialism, it Hossein 1993; Anne Booth 2011; Asnan becomes the empirical reality of Indonesia. 2007). The region expansion after the re- form is a repetition period, like during the Corresponding author political era of 1950s (Bemmelen, Sita Van; Perumahan Dosen Universitas Tadulako D8 No 2 Raben, Remco 2011). One of the instruments Kelurahan Tondo, Palu, Sulawesi Tengah, Indonesia Email that reinforce the situation is related to the [email protected] 116 M.N. Alamsyah & V.S. Subekti, The Role of Expansion Movement in the Establishment of New... The nationalistic character of Indo- excesses that are far from desired and not nesia emerges as a large house constructed in accordance with the characteristics of from a very plural primordial entity. These the community. Radical changes in politi- entity and ethnicity are living reality that cal contexts are dangerous because they are cannot be ruled out in national politics. This uncertain (Montesquieu 1977). According to phenomenon is an empirical condition of him, misery is often preferred over impro- nationality as a real implication of Indone- vement or something that is actually better sian nationality which consists of different but not yet established. The selection of new regions as well as the growth of regions with forms is far from the availability of necessary the identity and structure of power relations instruments to society and plagiarism met- between the elite and its people. The wil- hods are sometimes made the choice in poli- lingness to realize the regional autonomy tical contestation. Consequently, it becomes had spawned a series of regional rebellions a battle of choice of ideal conception. There in the 1950s, where various regional mo- is a policy which serves only as a repetition vements demanded that the government and duplication of previously oppressive change its policies which were considered policies. Emphasis on the tendency of selec- highly centralized, by giving greater auto- ting certain policy forms will result in other nomy (Lev 2009; Harvey 1984; Bebbington matters, including in the context of decent- 2010; ). ralization and the establishment of new re- The territorial identity for every com- gions in Indonesia. munity is important because the region is The decentralization policy is a mo- the space of interaction that connects peop- mentum that led a big bang of decentraliza- le, leaders and resources. In Indonesian tion in 2001 and 2006 in Indonesia (Fengler context of governmental policies, the situa- & Hofman 2009). The implications of free- tion is reflected by the existence of regional dom of regional autonomy create new effects autonomy. Large-scale of decentralization is for democracy. The phenomenon marks being undertaken, one of which is the expan- the birth of strong people (bossism) or sion of the region, thus becoming an alterna- the emergence of new local oligarchy. It is te link between community, state and local an implication of the weakness of a state leaders (Richard Bennet 2010). In the area of to create the necessary conditions for Ternate, students articulate their political alternative society (Sidel 2005, p. 62; Lim interests through involvement in the arena 2013). Other decentralized political pheno- of power through instruments of regional mena are related to the emergence of Jawara organizations (ethnic) (Basri Amin 2014). As in Banten (Masaaki and Hamid 2008), and in the context of Parigi Moutong, young studies in Bali, Bengkulu, West Java, and people play their own interests in the arena South Kalimantan (Bridget Welsh 2008, p. of power and in terms of taking advantage 474). Each of the study suggests that decent- of practical opportunities for them. The ralization has provided local opportunities expansion provides hope and opportunity through the institutionalization of violent to the community to be able to participate groups into political-economic capital. The directly in the government for the benefit of indication of other experts about the choice their community. Although considered not of a decentralized approach used in Indone- to be a solution to the plurality of social life, sia is a neo-institutionalism. The approach culture and religion, as the phenomenon misinterpret the idea of autonomy to be- of conflict in this era of decentralization as come radical change (Vedi R. Hadiz 2010). a mirror in view of the dilemmatic side of Decentralization has been said to create pre- decentralization. (Davidson 2008). dators as the chain of the new order which The implementation of political po- quickly master the local power through licies concerning an unsuitable affair, itsmoney, violence and media. Specifically, application may have adverse implications the formation of new autonomous regions for society. This is because it can provide (DOB) gives rise to a change in land use and UNNES JOURNALS Komunitas: International Journal of Indonesian Society and Culture 9 (1) (2017): 115-135 117 farming communities rather than strengt- ney has shaped a certain political class. The hens the policy to support agriculture that is centralized power of policy and allocation of the main source of life in the village (Sayuti money in local cities create regional-central 2015; Valenzuela 2012; Uitermark 2012; Lund typology. Other than that, current regional 2011; Uitermark 2012;). autonomy has fallen into the identity poli- Studies related to the movement of tics and terms of “region son” and the indi- regional formation are almost absent in genous people and immigrants. This reality the literature of political studies in Indo- is an open and uncontrolled implication in nesia. One of the classic studies in political the reform era. Communities and their eli- science is related to motivation and dimen- tes seek to achieve state resources through sions that underlie the uprising of Permes- various means with diverse interests that ta in Makassar and turned into an arena cause confusion, especially in the formation of violence in Minahasa (Barbara 1984). of areas that many claimed to fail (Hall 2015; According to Harvey, Permesta movement Connors 2010; Wampler 2012). is a threat to the central government which Assessment of political movements is considered dominant in the implementa- using dimensional approaches of mobili- tion of decentralization. The movement also zation structure of resource in the politi- shows the disappointment over the state cal opportunity structure theory (POST) is structure which is considered too bureauc- still its infancy. This theory is described by ratic, inefficient and corrupt. Studies related Mc Charty which sets out the structure of to decentralization-related regional move- resource mobilization is “..those collective ments can also be seen in Aceh and central vehicles, informal as well as formal, which government relationships. The birth of the through people Mobilize and engage in col- Aceh rebellion was a political event that was lective action” (McAdam, McCharty, Zald awakened with Aceh’s long background on 2004). The emphasis is on institutional both religious and regionalism