ABSTRACT
Despite the absence of higher-level political actors, the village is a field of social, economic, cultural, and political interaction between segments of society that reflects the circumstances at a higher level. Everyday politics in rural Madura has been manifested in an arena of alliances and competitions between village leaders: the klebun (village heads), the kiai (religious leaders), and the blater (local strongmen) in the struggle for influence, in which Islamic symbols and patronage play significant parts. This chapter is an important read for anyone exploring the dynamics of village politics, and also for readers more generally interested in sub-national politics.
