TRADISIONAL DOMINASI ELIT DARI MASA KE MASA (Studi Tentang Kekuasaan Elite Tradisional dalam Pemerintahan Desa di Kecamatan Takari Kabupaten Kupang Provinsi Nusa Tenggara Timur)

Usif Sonba'i as Atoin Meto King in West Timor mainland, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara is indigenous leader having significant role in creating a democratic government. It can not be denied, as one of the local elite he has contribution. This is because his social role gives a big impact for local communities. He is a role model and example for the community so he is a symbol which is always respected and obeyed. Usif Sonba'i takes on the role of control functions to achieve good governance. He's trying to preserve the status quo which had been had from the past by changing the distribution of its capital in the present context. Furthermore, this thesis describes, First, How is Usif Sonba'i�s strategy to remain dominance in the changing governance structures in Kauniki?. Second, What are the capitals owned Usif Sonba'i to remain dominance in Kauniki?. Third, how the capitals are used as a strategy to remain dominance? The method used in this thesis is a descriptive qualitative method. Data will be presented in a descriptive analysis. Field notes from interview and observation is an important element in the writing of the data, and then mix with secondary data, such as manuscripts, assessment tools, etc.. The selection of informants is purposive which determines the informant based on the knowledge and skills of the problem studied. This technique was chosen because the researcher is civil servant who has been living at the sites. Key informant in this study is Mesakh Sonba'i Ote. He is not only village headman while research conducted in Kauniki but also Usif Sonba'i�s descendant. The research found that Usif Sonba'i maintain his dominance from time to time by using reproductive strategies and modal exchange. Reproductive strategies which are done are inheriting the family name, and kinship relationships which are built from patterns of marriage. Furthermore, the form of exchange strategy done is taking control of existing resources, such as land, forests, livestock, etc. The success of the developed strategy is inseparable from the accumulation of capital he has, namely economic, cultural , and symbolic . In the democratic era, the accumulation of capital is used for participating in contestation of Village Headman Elections in royal ever to be lead. The election of him as the village Headman shows that his dominance in Kauniki remains exist from time to time. So, Usif Sonba'i with the amount of capital owned and strategies developed are able to preserve the status quo with his success in contestation of Village Headman