ISU PEMEKARAN WILAYAH SEBAGAI KOMODITAS POLITIK DALAM MASYARAKAT TO PULO DI KABUPATEN SELAYAR

The decentralization of local government administration has been expected to be able to promote the socio-economic prosperity of community. One of the opportunities that can be done is by establishing a new autonomous region through redistricting. By provoking the issue of redistricting, local
elites then brought this issue to be a political commodity to expand their political popularity and increase their electability. This article aims to 1) identify the factors behind the demands for the establishing a new autonomous region by redistricting certain islands of the Kepulauan Selayar Regency; 2) describe the role of elites in the effort to expand the Regency of Kepulauan Selayar; and 3) analyze the current dynamics regarding the issue of the territorial redistriction of the Kepulauan Selayar Regency. By using a qualitative approach, it is found that geographical circumstances, socioeconomic inequality of local indigenous people and differences of cultural identity are among the factors exist behind the demand to establishing a new autonomous territory. It is also found that local elites played a significant role behind the redistricting agenda for some reason, particularly to sustain their power and authority. However, the new territory is unable to be established, but the issue is remain articulated.