Uma Politics – An ethnography of democratization in West Sumba, Indonesia 1986-2006 (book review)

Title : Uma Politics – An ethnography of democratization in West Sumba, Indonesia 1986-2006.
Author ; Jacqueline A.C. Vel.
Published ; KITLV Press, Lieden, 2008.
Size; Paperback. 248+ pages

Comment.
The wife of a Dutch Christian missionary used here material for thesis on returning to Holland after some years, then did masters some years later with follow up visits to her old village and surrounding area. Extremely well written & quite readable. Typically starts chapter with social theory outlook, examines character of peoples social life through first hand experience and confidence of discussions with others and then concludes well.
The root of Uma Politics relates to the forms of “capital” :-
• Economic capital – being property rights, livestock, money or even the potential of future money. Most money comes from Government jobs, and so those who influence the ability to get such jobs, or who may bring a project to the area, have such “capital”.
• Cultural capital – being position related to traditional families within such district and compliance with good tradition & history.
• Social capital – being position related to good social standing, such as church organization, government agency, some NGO’s etc.
The author explains many concepts well, particularly that of “adat” and goes on to look at how “politics” is played out in day to day affairs in the village, and later on how such capital is used in the new national election of Bupati etc. The national political parties have no platforms and voting reflects the personalities use & balance of such “capital”.
Highly recommend this book to those who want to understand not only village politics in far away West Sumba, but these aspects manifest themselves to a large extent all over Indonesia, even in the apparently urban world of Jakarta. The politics of who you are, and how you present this personal image.