Work

Co-Optation of Political Elites in Public Spaces (A Semiotic Study of Building Colors Ahead of the Regional Election in Tomohon/Manado)

Year: 2025

Type: conference-paper

Abstract: Partai Golkar, including North Sulawesi, was the ruling party during the New Order regime.However, after the New Order regime collapsed in 1998, almost 184 new political parties emerged.The electoral system was changed to an open one, where citizens can choose legislative and executive candidates.After 10 years of the Partai Demokrat ruling North Sulawesi Province, since 2015, the PDIP, with its red party color, has been in power in this province.The emergence of new political parties has made each party compete for votes, and because Christianity is the majority religion and the Christian Evangelical Church in Minahasa is the oldest and largest church, it inevitably becomes a bone of contention for the political elite.The church, which is supposed to be a neutral and independent institution, has changed because the church elite began to enter politics and use religious symbols to attract its congregation.Facing the 2024 elections, almost all public spaces in Tomohon City and Manado are painted red.Citizens unite to articulate their interests and form discursive opinions and common will.This research will analyze the phenomenon using Peirce's semiotic analysis.Data is collected through a focus group discussion with four resource persons in North Minahasa.The conclusion is that using red is an elite co-optation in the public sphere to win certain political parties.Painting red on school buildings and churches violates the Election Law.In addition to the use of church symbols and the allowance of church elites who are candidates for the legislature or executive to conduct campaign activities in the church or in worship services, it has the potential to create jealousy and trigger conflict between people.

Source: Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research/Advances in social science, education and humanities research

DOI: 10.2991/978-2-38476-495-2_6

Authors: Wulan Purnama Sari, Suzy Azeharie, Claribel Halim, Tracy Zagitania

Institution: Tarumanagara University

Language: English

Topic: Indonesian Election Politics and Participation

Subfield: Political Science and International Relations

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W7117293166