Blater, from Affinity to Tyranny? The Phenomenon of Sole Candidate in the 2015 Local Election in Blitar Regency, Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract-Surveys on the direct election for local leader (pilkada) reveal that the popular leaders (who are close to the people) are most desirable, including among Javanese voters. Experts explain that those findings show evidence that there is functioning appearances-based inferences (image) constructed by politicians (Olivola and Todorov 2010). Lawson et al. (2010) assert that image is an influential arbiter of the success of politicians to gain positions public. In Indonesia, popularity and likeability are two factors contributing to high electability (Qodari 2010). Recent qualitative case study discovers that the personal construction of a regent candidate known as blater (friendly, easy to socialize) becomes the significant factor of popularity and likeability. Blater character represents the Javanese leadership philosophy of Prasaja and Manjing AjurAjer (want to live modestly and get along with ordinary people). In Javanese social relations, blater is the antithesis of elitist priyayi behavior. Moreover, blater is also compatible with Javanese wisdom, particularly for a Javanese leader, in order not to adigang (pride of power), adigung (pride of greatness), and adiguna (pride of skill and expertise). Beyond this excellent character of Javanese leader, blater has given rise to a tyranny leading to a sole candidate in the 2015 Blitar Regency election. Firstly, blater results in high popularity and likeability of the incumbent candidate and induces difficulties for potential challengers. Secondly, this situation encourages the rationality and opportunism of political parties in nominating regional heads, and finally to set a sole candidate. Lastly, citizens are persuaded to accept the election with the sole candidate as a condition of electoral democracy, although it limits the space for voting. Hence, pilkada with the sole candidate has eliminated the essence of democracy as a competitive arena of leaders' selection and space for expressing people choice. The absence of competition and capability to vote are two aspects negating the progress of democracy.

Capacity and Adequacy: Explicating Voting Behavior in A Multilevel and Concurrent Local Election

“…Terakhir, studi Sobari (2018) dalam Pilkada Kabupaten Blitar 2015 menemukan sifat blater (ramah) mendorong lahirnya tirani elektabilitas petahana. Alhasil, Pilkada 2015 di Kabupaten Blitar hanya diikuti satu pasangan calon (tunggal).…”

“…Studi-studi mengenai perilaku memilih dalam pilkada serentak sebelumnya menjelaskan beberapa faktor yang mendorong perilaku atau keputusan memilih warga. Empat faktor yang relevan, yaitu praktik transaksi suara (Fossati dkk., 2016),identitas sosial (etnik dan agama) (Kristianus, 2016), strategi pass marketing (Ramadhany, 2017), dan figur kandidat petahana yang blater (ramah dan dekat dengan rakyat) (Sobari, 2018). Terakhir, studi ini memperluas studi-studi sebelumnya tentang faktor-faktor yang mendorong atau relevan menjelaskan perilaku memilih dalam pilkada serentak, yaitu praktik transaksi suara (Fossati dkk., 2016), identitas sosial (etnik dan agama) (Kristianus, 2016), strategi pass marketing (Ramadhany, 2017), dan figur kandidat petahana yang blater (ramah dan dekat dengan rakyat) (Sobari, 2018).…”

“…Empat faktor yang relevan, yaitu praktik transaksi suara (Fossati dkk., 2016),identitas sosial (etnik dan agama) (Kristianus, 2016), strategi pass marketing (Ramadhany, 2017), dan figur kandidat petahana yang blater (ramah dan dekat dengan rakyat) (Sobari, 2018). Terakhir, studi ini memperluas studi-studi sebelumnya tentang faktor-faktor yang mendorong atau relevan menjelaskan perilaku memilih dalam pilkada serentak, yaitu praktik transaksi suara (Fossati dkk., 2016), identitas sosial (etnik dan agama) (Kristianus, 2016), strategi pass marketing (Ramadhany, 2017), dan figur kandidat petahana yang blater (ramah dan dekat dengan rakyat) (Sobari, 2018). Analisis perbandingan perilaku memilih dalam Pilwali Kota Malang dan Pilgub Jatim yang diselenggarakan secara serentak pada 2018 menemukan dua konvergensi yang menjelaskan persamaan dan perbedaan alasan memilih para pemilih, yaitu kapasitas memilih dan kecukupan informasi tentang kandidat.…”

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This qualitative case study explores voting behavior in a multilevel (municipality and province) and concurrent local election in the Municipality of Malang. Previous researches on concurrent local election in Indonesia revealed a number of relevant factors elucidating voters ' choices, namely vote-buying (Fossati et al, 2016), social identity (Kristianus, 2016), intensity of meeting with candidates (Ramadhany, 2017), and the blater character of incumbent (friendly and close to commoners) (Sobari, 2018). The study extends previous findings through exposure to voting behavior that the capacity to vote and the adequacy of information about candidates are two converging factors explaining similarities and differences in the considerations for voting.

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“…Wawancara dilaksanakan pada 7 Okober 2018 Kristianus (2016). Ramadhany (2017), danSobari (2018). Perilaku memilih dalam pilkada multilevel dan serentak menemukan kapasitas memilih dan kecukupan informasi tentang kandidat merupakan dua konvergensi yang bisa menjelaskan perbedaan dan kesamaan antara pertimbangan memilih dalam Pilwali Kota Malang dan Pilgub Jatim yang dilakukan secara bersamaan di Kota Malang pada 27 Juni 2018.Kapasitas memilih menunjukkan kemampuan para pemilih untuk mengambil keputusan memilih, terutama merujuk pada alasan-alasan pilihan rasional.…”