<![CDATA[This study aims to analyze public perceptions of the role of the Bugis-Makassar ethnic group in the 2024 mayoral election in Sorong City, Southwest Papua. Questionnaire data from 348 randomly and proportionally sampled voters were analyses descriptively across five perception dimensions: social, political, economic, cultural, and interethnic relations. The results show that public perceptions are positive and fall into the high category across all dimensions (overall mean = 3.56). The political dimension scored highest (3.60), followed by interethnic relations (3.58), social (3.56), economic (3.53), and cultural (3.53). Item-level analysis reveals a consistent pattern: statements describing visible participation and cross-ethnic cooperation, such as involvement in social activities and collaboration with local communities, received the highest scores, whereas statements attributing causal or instrumental influence, such as shaping candidates’ policies or using tradition to attract voter sympathy, received the lowest. These findings indicate that the Bugis-Makassar community is recognized as a partner in multicultural local democracy rather than as a dominant group, a form of acceptance closely tied to the accommodation between indigenous Papuans and migrant communities in Sorong’s electoral politics.]]>
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