From Asymmetric to Polycentric Development: Pattern, Distribution and Stakeholder Analysis of Community Empowerment Program in Batu, Indonesia

Abstract

This article discuss at investigating the patterns, distribution, and stakeholders involved in the community empowerment program in Batu, East Java, Indonesia. By using the combination of Arc GIS (Geographic Information System) and Stakeholder Analysis, the community empowerment in Batu shows pragmatic and autocratic empowerment patterns. Besides, the community empowerment program in Batu is divided into 2 categories, namely exist/receive and does not exist/does not receive. The existing condition of empowerment program spreads unevenly. To deal with the issue, it is important to consider the Polycentric Development, which allows each region to have a Village Empowerment Center for equitable development. The city government has so far been the most dominant stakeholders in the empowerment program in Batu. Nevertheless, there are many other stakeholders starting to appear, such as private sectors and NGO, actors/individuals and media contributions, and universities. For recommendation, Government, private sectors, and non-governmental organizations can accommodate the principles of psychological empowerment, so that the empowerment is not only seen as a pragmatic-authoritarian impression. This principle is important because it can emotionally (intrapersonal) see someone’s capacity to bring influence in making social changes and decisions. Communities as people who are exposed to empowerment programs need to actively increase participation. The next researcher can emphasize the stakeholder analysis on the collaboration and social networking patterns among them.