Kepentingan Politik Elite dalam Proses Pemekaran Provinsi Papua Tengah: Analisis Perspektif Teori Konflik Lewis A. Coser

Abstract

This article analyzes elite political interests in the policy of establishing Central Papua Province under Law Number 15 of 2022, employing Lewis A. Coser’s functional conflict theory. Regional expansion in Papua not only reflects an administrative state policy but also constitutes an arena of competing interests among the central government, local elites, and Indigenous Papuan communities. Using a descriptive qualitative method based on document analysis and in-depth interviews, this study demonstrates that conflicts surrounding the expansion have both realistic and non-realistic dimensions. Realistic conflicts are manifested in struggles over power, resources, and political positions among elites, while non-realistic conflicts emerge from expressions of dissatisfaction, historical trauma, and Papuan political identity. Within Coser’s framework, these conflicts perform functional roles by strengthening internal solidarity and reinforcing collective identity; however, they also generate dysfunctional effects, including increased distrust toward the state and social fragmentation. The study concludes that the formation of Central Papua Province reflects ongoing tensions between development agendas and elite political interests, underscoring the need for meaningful public participation and affirmative policies that are sensitive to local needs and cultural contexts