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International Journal of Marine Science 2014, Vol.4, No.22, 197-209
http://ijms.biopublisher.ca
198
as development theory which is based on Karl Marx’s
ideas concerning exploitation by the capitalist
countries against the colonized countries. In this case, it
was indicated that the study of capitalism exploitation
could not be limited by economic system based on
national state in association with imbalance class
(Marx in Boudon & Cherkaoui, 2000). An imbalance
also occurred in the relation among countries based on
inequality (Culley, 1977). The capitalistic states at the
first place have finally managed to do imperialism and
colonialism on the colonial states (Ritzer, 1996; Marx
in Boudon & Cherkaoui, 2000; Taylor, 1989).
Relationship between the colonizer and colonized
countries was based on unequal and exploitative
relation. Furthermore, the colonized countries gained
their political independence, it remained to establish
their dominance through various forms of economic
cooperation relations that created a dependency and
underdevelopment. In this context, Frank took the case
of Chile and Brazil that became dependent countries
due to the contact with imperialism powers of the
developed countries (Valezuela & Valezuela, 1981).
Meanwhile Baran, in the case of British imperialism in
India, British successes to occupation have drained
Indian wealth, it changed the basic structure of Indian
economy from independent to dependent especially on
external economic strength.
Based on the above case, it is very interesting when
the world system theory can be utilized to analyze the
phenomena in macro level and center-periphery
relationship among islands on micro level, precisely in
Karimunjawa Islands. Even the dependency relationship
patterns reflected any imbalances and exploitations as
revealed by Andre Gunder-Frank. The unequal
dependency relationship tended to inhibit social
development and progress in periphery. Perhaps it will
be more exciting if the dynamics of center-periphery
relations and dependencies lead to emergence of
culturally hegemonic relationship patterns among the
main islands of Karimunjawa islands, primarily
between Karimunjawa Island and surrounding small
islands, especially Parang Island.
The people socio-culturally constructed self-identification
as 'wong Karimun' while community of Parang island
and other small islands were identified as 'wong pulau'.
The term 'wong Karimun' had connotation as people
living in the main island, which was Karimunjawa as
the center of development of Karimunjawa islands.
The term 'wong pulau' represented of people living in
small islands surrounding Karimunjawa Island.
Related to the matter, this article analyzes economic
and political dependency in historical process has
given rise to asymmetrical relationship patterns such
as created center-periphery dichotomy. In surn, the
asymmetrical economic and political relationship has
created a stereotype that reflected the cultural
hegemony of the center area towards the periphery.
The center is connoted as the more advanced and
developed area, while the periphery represents the
deemed and underdeveloped area. This article will
explore the root causes of the relationship patterns
which is established between growing and developing
island as center area and the other small islands as
periphery. But the internal interactions among social
elements in the society Karimunjawa islands as the
center is also very interesting to be studied. It also
examines on the development role of communication
technology, information, and transportation in
reducing economic domination, dependency and the
cultural hegemony.
2 Method
This paper aim to construct a contextual objective
reality through understanding of subjective world,
therefore this research has implemented a case study
using qualitative methods (Stake, in Norman K.
Denzin & Loncoln, 2000). This method is based on
the premise of reality that made up of social
interaction (socially constructed) and therefore must
be understood from the subject itself. The whole
process of data was collected through methods;
in-depth interviews, group interviews and participant
observation, archives and documents study as well as
literature study (Garraghan, 1957; Alfian, 1984).
In-depth interviews were conducted on individual
respondents using snowball sampling technique, while
group interviews were also conducted on respondents
collectively to discuss various issues related to their
views, perceptions and opinions about activities and
life of small islands community (Khan & Manderson,
1992). For the effectiveness and efficiency purposes
both individual and group interviews, a personal
approach was previously made to formal and informal
public figures (Lipton & Moore, 1980). Participant
observation is a particular way in which researchers