Challenger Political Strategies in Defeating An Incumbent in The Village Head Election of Ganra Village, Soppeng Regency, Indonesia
Keywords:
local politics, political strategy, incumbent defeat, village election, local democracy.Abstract
This study aims to analyze the political strategies employed by a challenger candidate in defeating an incumbent during the 2020 Village Head Election (Pilkades) in Ganra Village, Soppeng Regency, Indonesia. Village elections represent a significant arena of local democracy where political actors compete to gain legitimacy and public support. Theoretically, incumbents possess considerable advantages, including access to bureaucratic resources, political networks, and social legitimacy established during their tenure. However, the 2020 Village Head Election in Ganra Village demonstrated a different phenomenon, as the challenger successfully defeated the incumbent.
This research employed a qualitative approach using a case study method. Data were collected through observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation involving village head candidates, campaign teams, community leaders, religious leaders, youth leaders, and local residents. The findings reveal that the challenger’s victory was influenced by three primary factors: interpersonal political communication, the mobilization of community social networks, and the construction of a political image representing change. These strategies enabled the challenger to build alternative legitimacy capable of challenging the incumbent's political dominance.
The study further demonstrates that local democracy in Ganra Village has undergone a transformation toward a more participatory and rational political culture. Although Bugis cultural values, particularly siri’ na pacce (honor and solidarity), as well as kinship relations, continue to influence political behavior, voters increasingly consider leadership quality, development programs, and candidates’ communication abilities in making political choices. The findings contribute to the literature on local politics by explaining how shifts in political legitimacy and social mobilization can reshape power relations within village-level democratic institutions.
