Ethnicity, Democracy and Decentralization: Explaining the Ethnic Political Participation of Direct Election in Medan 2010

This study aims to explain the role of ethnicity in influencing the dynamics of direct election in 2010 in Medan, Indonesia. Direct election planed that ethnicity in Medan, North Sumatera was constructed by colonial power in which influence the political participation of the society. We found that Medan mayoral candidate often use the issue of ethnicity. It is a way to get the support of the people. Society did not choose based on the programs offered by mayor candidate. Free education program, or a free ID card issue turns out that it does not compete with “native” issue. There was a perception in the community that the mayors who came from the same ethnic community would give many benefits. Besides that, the first and second rounds of direct election in Medan were about inter-ethnic competition. It is not about religion competition. Election based on ethnicity has a very negative impact on the sustainability of democracy and decentralization in Indonesia, especially in Medan.