From Custom To Policy: The Role of Community Attributes in Shaping Local Governance in Tenggerland

Abstract

This research focuses on the management of village funds among the Tengger indigenous people, which is an important example of the implementation of Common Pool Resources (CPR) in the local context. The Tengger people, with their strong social systems and indigenous leadership, face challenges in balancing the government's formal policies with long-standing customary values. Although some research has highlighted the importance of integrating local values in CPR management, there is still a lack of understanding of how community attributes, such as customary norms and leadership structures, affect local governance, especially among the Tengger indigenous peoples. The purpose of this study is to analyze the adaptive mechanism of the management of Village Funds as CPR, explore the relationship between the village head election process and the legitimacy of traditional leadership, and examine the role of the attribute of community of the Tengger community in the formation of regional public policy. This study uses a qualitative approach with the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) Framework. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participatory observations, and documentation in two Tengger villages: Ngadas and Pandansari. The triangulation method is used to improve the validity of the data. The analysis was carried out using the N-Vivo 12 Plus software and the IAD framework to identify the factors affecting the management of the Village Fund. The study identified that the attributes of the Tengger people, such as the traditional leadership structure, the deliberation system, and spiritual values, play an important role in determining local public policy. In addition, the customary-based social control system and the principle of mutual cooperation increase transparency and accountability in the management of Village Funds. These findings show that the integration of customary values in the management of Village Funds can improve the sustainability and legitimacy of policies. The study suggests that public policies should consider local social and cultural contexts to increase participation and reduce conflict among indigenous peoples.