Village democracy and winning strategies based on Power in Javanese culture in Village Head Election in Tanjung Village, Pagu District, Kediri Regency

This study based on the different understandings about political activities in the villages. This study aims to prove oligarchy in electoral process to elect village leader (headman) in Indonesia is different compare to other elections at the local and national level. By applying qualitative research method and looking at the case of Tanjung village, Pagu District, Kediri Regency. The study shows that all candidates have tried to maximize the benefit of both material resources and non-material power according to Javanese values. However, the use of money and formal institutions as the basic character of oligarchy as indicated by some scholars is not effective in gaining votes in the village head election. On the contrary, the application of nonmaterial power used by the elected headman election candidates proves as more effective to attract more votes. The source of nonmaterial power is parallel with Javanese power derived from mystical energy of ‘kesakten’, and it works effectively to increase contestants’ confidence in embracing the headman election. Various forms of political strategy based on spiritual power are divided into six categories: Slametan ceremony at the village founder's grave, pitou services come from religious leader and dukun, ownership of heirlooms, pulung as a legitimacy of power, and petungan Javanese calender Keywords—Political Strategy, Power Sources, Local Politics,