IDENTITY POLITICS IN SURAKARTA FOOTBALL (CASE STUDY - SURAKARTANS 1923 IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF POLITICAL ECONOMY)

Research background – The emergence of Surakartans 1923, must be regarded as a means to demonstrate their passion, identity, and social status. Also, they were discriminated and marginalized by the authority, and another supporter group in Surakarta football. That would explain based on identity politics that is related to the protest political or non-political by Surakartans 1923 as a discriminated group using rational choice theory – individual decisions. Research Objectives – To investigate those factors that influence individual’s decisions in political and non-political protest and commodification in Surakarta Football, and explore the understanding between political protest, hooliganism behaviour, and consumerism in Surakarta football. Literature Review – Identity Politics and Football Commodification. Research Methodology - This study uses a qualitative emancipatory research case-study design with descriptive analysis methods. The data collection uses in-depth interview techniques and observation. Finding and Conclusion - This result of the research found that the rationality of the participants to protest is a step to maintain democratic standards in football, they have a way to take political protest / non-political protest as their right; participative democracy. Participants in this research case have reasons by considering one of the best alternative options that leads them to have faith in and make a decision that are accurate for them to take an act.