Misdiagnosis of Empowerment Programs and Socio-Ecological Uncertainty: Reconstruction of Coastal Community Development in Riau
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26418/n78n3x51Keywords:
coastal community, empowerment, misdiagnosis, socio-ecological uncertainty, Riau, community developmentAbstract
Coastal poverty in Riau, Indonesia, reflects a multidimensional condition shaped by socio-ecological uncertainty, unequal market access, weak infrastructure, peatland ecological risks, and limited bargaining power within local economic chains. Empowerment programs in coastal areas often emphasize capital assistance, technical training, equipment provision, and group formation, yet these interventions frequently fail to address the structural roots of vulnerability. Using a qualitative case study approach, fieldwork was conducted from May to September 2025 in four coastal areas of Riau Province: Meranti Islands, Bengkalis, Pelalawan, and Indragiri Hilir. Data were collected through participant observation, in-depth interviews with 32 informants, informal discussions, field notes, and analysis of policy and development documents. Findings indicate that empowerment programs tend to misread poverty as a lack of inputs rather than as a complex socio-ecological and institutional problem. Vulnerability varies across livelihood groups: fishermen face uncertainty in weather, catches, fuel costs, and distribution; sago and rubber farmers face price fluctuations and market constraints; women bear household adaptation burdens; and youth experience limited access to sustainable economic networks. The main contribution lies in positioning misdiagnosis as an epistemic problem in social policy and reconstructing coastal community development through participatory socio-ecological risk mapping, value-chain integration, substantive participation, cross-sectoral governance, and transformative resilience rooted in local knowledge and social justice.
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