The Role of Economic Agent and Traditional Institution on the Sustainability of Sasi Culture in Maluku, Indonesia

Abstract

This research is aimed to analyze the role of economic actors and traditional institutions to the survival of cultural system Sasi especially “Sasi Pala” ( nutmeg sasi) in Maluku Island. The study used a qualitative approach post structuralism perspective. Data obtained by in-depth interviews that involving 35 informant from Negeri Morella district at Central Maluku. Data analysis techniques were using interpretation techniques and triangulation. The results of this study indicate that Sasi traditional culture system developed in the Morella country not due to maintain awareness tradition but more on the needs of the economy after the decline the price of cloves due to business administration policy and the SARA conflict in Maluku. Nutmeg plants become the foundation of the economy which is managed by Sasi head ruler. Therefore Sasi is transformed from traditional system into modern system because of economic necessity of the community, the mechanisms role of the community that applied to the Sasi is no longer customary system but economic modern system. The mechanism through an auction to determine the ruler Sasi fellow one year with a frequency of three times the harvest. Economic actors will deposit the funds of the auction bid for the benefit of the mosque as tradition and further support custom leader as representatives of the community handed over control, withdrawal of excise crops with a ratio of 1:10, and the purchase of nutmeg wet as a monopoly. The Sasi nutmeg, which lasted from 2004 to 2015, have show the consistency of the application of the Sasi auction mechanism nutmeg. This study found that although Sasi is a Moluccan culture, but when the economy needs urgent, Sasi nutmeg in the realm of culture shifted into the economic sphere.