Wet rice cultivation in Indonesia - Free EBooks Library

Wet rice cultivation in Indonesia Chapter three
3.4.2 Traditional authority in rural communities
Traditional rural communities in Indonesia are often under influence of official authorities. In
many cases however, they do also have their own informal and traditional authorities. To
understand the concept of ‘traditional authority’, we will first focus on the concept of
‘authority’. Mitchell uses the following definition for authority:
“Authority is one of the major forms of power through which the actions of a plurality of
individual human actors are placed or maintained in a condition of order or are concerted for
the collaborative attainment of a particular goal or general goals” (Mitchell 1979:12 in Mitchell
2000:27)
In this thesis, ‘a plurality of individual human actors’ must be seen as all those members of a
traditional rural community who are under influence of authority and that do not have a form
of authority themselves.
The definition of authority makes it necessary to define the concept of power too. Van Doorn
defines power as follows:
“Power is the ability to, in accordance with the objectives of a person or group, consciously
limit the behavioural options of other persons or groups” (Van Doorn, 1989 in Ten Haaf et al,
2002:570)
This definition of power implies that a traditional leader of a rural community cannot have
authority. There can only be evidence of authority of a traditional leader in the form of
power. Indeed, authority becomes visible through power. Authority is therefore power,
accepted by those who are subjected to it (Ten Haaf et al, 2002:572).
Laksono (1990:39) states that the physical power of rural kings that ruled on Java
several centuries ago was not enough. The king also had to deflect supernaturally induced
disturbances, and for this he needed to have extra-physical or magical power, called
kasekten. Today, this is still applicable in some rural areas of Indonesia. Thus, the traditional
leader has to show his physical and extra-physical power occasionally, in order to maintain
the belief of the members of the community that he has indeed these powers.
Thus, I would like to redefine traditional authority as:
“The physical and extra-phyiscal power of one or more persons which is accepted by the
members of a traditional rural community, through which the actions of the members are
placed or maintained in a condition of order”
The question remains what the role is of a traditional leader in a rural traditional community.
Moertono (1981:3) regards this role as giving guidance to the social organisation of the
community. This does not mean that he is involved in the members’ daily routine. He is
intensely involved however in maintaining adherence to establish social patterns, the main
manifestation of harmony and coherence of the community.
In relation to the possible integration of modernisation influences in wet rice
cultivation, the role of a traditional leader can be decisive. Moertono (1981:4) mentions in
this respect that the leader is ‘expected to uphold the established order and not to introduce
any innovations’. We can understand this from the fact that he is responsible for the
harmony and balance in the community. As has been elaborated in section 3.3.1 on
cosmology, traditional rural communities believe that disturbing balance and harmony might
cause disaster.
3.4.3 Accepting traditional authority – the concept of legitimacy
Considering every day decisions within the utilisation of sawahs, the leader of a traditional
rural community in Indonesia is of a very high importance. Especially if it comes to decisions
with regard to the timing of a certain stage in wet rice cultivation, his influence is decisive.
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