THE PARADOX OF DEMOCRACY IN INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL:
CASE STUDY OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TEMEF DAM IN SOUTH CENTRAL TIMOR REGENCY)
Abstract
This research aims to find out about the consolidation of substantive democratic values at the
local level through infrastructure development, which in this case study is the construction of
the Temef Dam in South Central Timor District. This research aims to reveal the paradox of
democracy in constructing the Temef Dam, where consolidation and deconsolidation of
substantive democratic values co-occur. The theory used is Michael Ross's Rentier State theory
to see the anti-democratic effects of the TemefDam construction process. In addition, this study
also uses Michael Foucault's Governmentality theory and Gramsci's hegemony theory to see the
power relations between the government and the community and the internalization of
knowledge and cultural values in the democratic space of Temef Dam construction. The
researcher used a qualitative approach with a case study type of research. Data collection
techniques include observation, interviews and documentation. The results of this study prove
that infrastructure development has not been able to consolidate substantive democratic values
at the local level. This is because democracy deconsolidates simultaneously in the process of
infrastructure development. In the Temef Dam case study, there was an issue of unpaid land
compensation to the community. It was also found that the internalization of knowledge and
values in the democratic space made the power relations between the government and the
community unbalanced.