Vol. 6(3), pp. 92-104, March, 2014 DOI: 10.5897/IJSA2013.0490 ISSN 2006- 988x © 2014 Academic Journals http://www.academicjournals.org/IJSA International Journal of Sociology and Anthropology Full Length Research Paper The impact of market penetration on social capital changes at the fishing community in Small Island: A case in Barrang Lompo Island Makassar City, South Sulawesi Province Sakaria J. Anwar*, Lala M. Kolopaking, Rilus A.Kinseng and Aida Vitayala S.Hubeis. Hasanuddin University, Indonesia. Accepted 19 December, 2013 This paper is based on one of the topics in a dissertation “Capital Social, State and Market in Fisherman Communities in Small Islands (a Case Study in Barrang Lompo Island Makassar-South Sulawesi Province)”. The research was conducted approximately in one year and specific for this paper, the research lasted for six months. Data were collected through in-depth interview and limited observation on twelve informants selected through snowball sampling. Data then were analyzed qualitatively to explain research’s data and facts. Research result shows that market penetration through the rapid flow of incoming goods, services and people to the island and commercialization of marine products in fisherman communities in small islands for the last ten years has diminished the values prevailed in and obeyed by the communities. On the other side, however, it has created additional values in the communities, whereas some other values have shifted to new forms. Key words: The impact, social capital changes, fisherman communities, market penetration, commercialization, local community and trust. INTRODUCTION Background Market penetration through the commercialization of marine products and the rapid flow of incoming goods to a community has created huge change (improvement) within the community as well as various problems. One of crucial problems created by the market penetration is imbalance relationship (market is dominating the local community) between ideology (cultural aspect) and social structure (Benedetto, 1993; Kolopaking, 2011). The condition has diminished the social capital and caused social disruption that disturbs and distorts the achieved social life harmony. The diminishing of social capital (decapitalization) due to market penetration is the social cost bore by the local community (Fukuyama, 2002). This decrease on social life quality influencing the community’s social solidarity deserves more attention. The emergence of new cultures and values brought by market penetration most likely will diminish or even wipe out the social capital (Fukuyama, 2001; Lin, 2004).). It is due to the replacement by new institutions that is probably against values and norms followed by the society. Society, however, will be stagnant without inter- vention (modernization) (Hayami and Kikhuci, 1997; Santoso, 2011). On the other hand, if the diminishing process continues, societies may lose their self-identity and will put them into a situation where they are prone *Corresponding author. E-mail: sakaria_anwar_ipb@yahoo.com.