Susiatiningsih, Hermini (2015) STREET LEVEL POLITICS OF ELECTION: Grass Root Political Behaviour in Semarang, Indonesia. In: Asean Integration : Opportunities and Challenge. Proceeding Books International Conference on Public Organization . Asia Pacific Society for Public Affairs.

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Abstract

Grass root voices are often ignored by many audiences. Voices of elites are more listened than the grass
root. Domination of elite voices has dictated political trends in political discourse and policies. Off
course, there is great gap in regarding to grass root versus elite voices. This research is aimed at
filling the gap of the study especially in regard to less powerful voices of the grass root voters or people
in Semarang City Mayor election. This research occupies explanatory type of qualitative research.
Collection of data uses survey, interview and observation. Respondents in this research are grass root
voters who are identified based on economic indicator, namely poor people or low economic income
voters (especially informal workers, such as street traders, traditional market trades, becak (pedicab)
drivers, street beggars and the like). This is because grass root voters based on economic indicator are
more easily accessible than other classification. Informants are selected from leaders or figures of this
grass root society. Research results show that there is great pessimism of grass root voters in local city
mayor election of Semarang City. They do not believe that local mayor election will make them more
welfare. They view political leaders or elites only take benefits from grass root support or voices when
is needed. After election is completed, the political leaders will forget or ignore their political promises
to the grass roots as promised during election campaign time. Majority of grass root voters does not
understand the concept of democracy, but they believe on the importance of the government existence.
Grass root voters then tend to be egoistic-transactional-economic and pessimism toward the city mayor
election. Immediate policies need to be made to restore these negative grass root political views. Good
political communications among grass root voters, elites and the government need to be established.

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