FROM TRADITION TO POLITICS: HOW THE BAKAR BATU SHAPES VOTING BEHAVIOR IN JAYAWIJAYA, PAPUA'S HIGHLANDS

Abstract

Bakar Batu tradition in the Papua Highlands was originally a cultural practice representing social solidarity, togetherness, and customary reconciliation. However, over time, this tradition has been transformed into a medium for political communication and electoral mobilization. This phenomenon shows that Bakar Batu not only serves as a social identity but also shapes the political behavior of indigenous communities. This study aims to analyze the influence of the Bakar Batu tradition on voting behaviors in political contests in Jayawijaya Regency. The study used a quantitative, explanatory research design. Data were collected via questionnaires and analyzed using the Structural Equation Modeling-Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) method in SmartPLS. The results show that the Bakar Batu tradition has a positive and significant influence on people's voting behaviors, with an original sample value of 0.615, a T-statistic of 10.803, and a P-value of 0.000. In addition, the R-square value of 0.378 indicates that the Bakar Batu tradition has a fairly strong contribution in explaining people's voting behavior. This finding confirms that local culture plays a strategic role in the dynamics of local democracy in Papua by strengthening social legitimacy, communal solidarity, and emotional closeness between political elites and the indigenous community (voters).