Function of Social Cohesion Element in Participatory Empowerment towards Landless Peasants

¹ Faculty of Agriculture, Purwokerto Muhammadiyah University, Purwokerto, Indonesia
² Faculty of Agriculture, Jenderal Soedirman University, Purwokerto, Indonesia
³ Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Jenderal Soedirman University, Purwokerto, Indonesia

Abstract

Social cohesion is one of the essential elements in participatory empowerment of landless peasants. This study aims to examine the categorization function within elements of social cohesion in empowering landless peasants using a participatory manner. The research location was set intentionally in Baturaden District, Banyumas Regency and Purbalingga Wetan Subdistrict, Purbalingga Regency, Central Java Province, Indonesia. The research method is using an intrinsic case study approach. Based on the research result showed that the predominant function within elements of social cohesion at the individual level are enthusiasm, trust, quality and closeness of social relations, solidarity and social values, while some element of social cohesion at the community level has a function towards peasant participatory in the empowerment include motives, mentality, actions, behavior, awareness of self-identity and morality. Lastly, the quality of social relations and collaboration networks is a manifestation of social cohesion which has a dominant function at the institutional level. All elements of social cohesion function are reinforcing energy and driving the activeness of landless peasant in participatory empowerment.