HABITUS ELIT PARTAI DAN REPRODUKSI BUDAYA POLITIK PILKADA KOTA MEDAN

Abstract

This study explores how the habitus of party elites contributes to the formation and reproduction of political culture in the Medan City Local Election. It is based on the premise that local political dynamics are shaped not only by formal democratic institutions but also by socio-cultural factors that influence the behavior, decision-making, and political strategies of key actors. A qualitative approach with a case study design was employed to gain an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, field observations, and documentary analysis, and were examined using an interactive analytical process informed by Pierre Bourdieu’s concepts of habitus, capital, and field. The findings reveal that party elite habitus is developed through organizational experience, cadre formation, and the continuous accumulation of social, cultural, and symbolic capital. Political culture is reproduced through candidate recruitment, patronage networks, the strategic use of religious symbols, and the reinforcement of organizational loyalty. The study concludes that the Medan City Local Election functions as a political arena in which habitus, capital, and power interact to sustain elite dominance and ensure the continuity of local political culture. The findings of this study are expected to advance the development of political anthropology and political sociology by providing theoretical insights and practical policy recommendations for fostering a more participatory, inclusive, and socio-culturally responsive local democracy.