Villages in the Shadow of Village Administration: Local Wisdom Losing Its Role
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64670/jpgs.v2i2.89Keywords:
Mukim, Local Wisdom, Village Governance, Institutional Dysfunction, Structural FunctionalismAbstract
Background Mukim is a customary governance institution that holds a strategic position in Aceh’s local government system and functions as a guardian of local wisdom. However, in the context of contemporary village governance, its role has increasingly weakened. This study aims to examine the implementation of Mukim’s functions as a local wisdom institution and to analyze the structural constraints that limit its effectiveness in Teluk Dalam District, Simeulue Regency.
Methods Employing a qualitative descriptive approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and document analysis involving Imum Mukim, village heads, customary leaders, religious figures, community representatives, and local government officials. Data were analyzed using data reduction, display, and conclusion drawing techniques.
Results The findings reveal that Mukim’s functions, as mandated by Simeulue Regency Qanun No. 5 of 2010, have not been optimally implemented. Mukim tends to operate symbolically and ceremonially, while its substantive roles in customary governance, development coordination, religious guidance, dispute resolution, and natural resource oversight remain marginal. The dominance of village government following the Village Fund policy has repositioned Mukim from an intermediate institution to a peripheral actor with limited authority. Using Robert K. Merton’s structural-functional perspective, the study identifies an imbalance between manifest and latent functions, resulting in institutional dysfunction.
Conclusions The study concludes that strengthening Mukim requires not only normative recognition but also operational and structural reconstruction through clearer authority, capacity building, and institutional integration within local governance frameworks to restore its relevance as a living institution of local wisdom.
References
Alianur, M., & Putra, A. S. (2020). Peran Imum Mukim Dalam Pembangunan Pemerintahan Gampong Di Aceh. RESAM Jurnal Hukum, 6(2), 56–66. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.32661/resam.v6i2.45
Azmi, A., Isnaini, I., & Kusmanto, H. (2019). Efektivitas Peran Mukim Dalam Sistem Pemerintahan di Kabupaten Aceh Singkil. Strukturasi: Jurnal Ilmiah Magister Administrasi Publik, 1(1), 11–21. https://doi.org/10.31289/strukturasi.v1i1.2
Benyei, P., Calvet-Mir, L., Reyes-García, V., & Villamayor-Tomas, S. (2022). Indigenous and Local Knowledge’s Role in Social Movement’s Struggles Against Threats to Community-Based Natural Resource Management Systems: Insights from a Qualitative Meta-analysis. International Journal of the Commons, 16(1), 263–277. https://doi.org/10.5334/ijc.1154
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2019). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches. Sage publications.
Diras, Muhammad Hatta, & Faisal. (2024). Mekanisme Penyelesaian Perkara Pidana Melalui Pengadilan Adat di Kota Lhokseumawe Diras [1] , Muhammad Hatta [2] & Faisal [3]. CENDIKIA: Jurnal Hukum, Sosial Dan Humaniora, 2(3), 688–701. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.70193/cendekia.v2i3.100
Mansur, T. M., Adli, M., Sulaiman, S., Muazzin, M., & Yahya, A. (2024). The division of mukim and gampong traditional areas in customary forest management in Aceh Province, Indonesia. Jurnal Geuthèë: Penelitian Multidisiplin, 7(1), 49. https://doi.org/10.52626/jg.v7i1.329
Mardhiah, N., Muhammad, Z., Saputra, J., Triayanto, T., & Marefanda, N. (2023). Collaborative Governance: Aceh Traditional Institutions and the Implications of the Sdgs Local Wisdom of Acehnese Coastal Communities in Indonesia. Universiti Malaysia Terengganu Journal of Undergraduate Research, 5(2), 99–115. https://doi.org/10.46754/umtjur.v5i2.421
Merton, R. K. (1968). Social theory and social structure. Simon and Schuster.
Muzakir, M., & Ibrahim, H. (2017). Peran Mukim Dalam Memperkuat Kearifan Lokal Di Aceh. Jurnal Ilmiah Mahasiswa Fakultas Ilmu Sosial & Ilmu Politik, 2(2), 289–308.
Nazaruddin, T., Sulaiman, S., & Yulia, Y. (2022). Kearifan Lokal Penataan Ruang Wilayah Mukim Yang Berkelanjutan Di Aceh. Arena Hukum, 15(2), 237–256. https://doi.org/10.21776/ub.arenahukum.2022.01502.2
Nurhaliza, Mansur, T. M., & Efendi. (2024). The Position and the Role of Mukim in Customary Forest Control in Aceh Besar Regency. International Journal of Multicultural and Multireligious Understanding, 11(5), 270. https://doi.org/10.18415/ijmmu.v11i5.568
Samsuddin, S., Hendrayani, S., & Latief, S. (2021). Peran Lembaga Adat Dalam Perencanaan Pembangunan Desa Pudak, Kecamatan Kumpeh Ulu Kabupaten Muaro Jambi. Tanah Pilih, 1(1), 33–44. https://doi.org/10.30631/tpj.v1i1.675
Saraan, L. S., Sumardi, D., & Umur, A. (2023). PERAN MUKIM DALAM MENYELESAIKAN SENGKETA TAPAL BATAS TANAH DI KEMUKIMAN SILANG CADEK KEC. BAITUSSALAM KAB. ACEH BESAR MENURUT KONSEP SYURA. As-Siyadah : Jurnal Politik Dan Hukum Tata Negara, Vol 2 No 2 (2023): September As-Siyadah : Jurnal Politik dan Hukum Tata Negara, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.22373/as-siyadah.v2i2.3151
Sulaiman, S., Muksalmina, M., PG, E. G., Mardhatillah, F., Tasyukur, T., Azzahra, A. P., & Rahmadana, R. (2024). Pendampingan Perangkat Adat Gampong Dalam Penyelesaian Sengketa Secara Adat Di Gampong Paya Gaboh. Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat Nusantara, 5(4), 5121–5129. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.55338/jpkmn.v5i4.4316
Syahroni, F., Riswan, Z., Manan, A., Saprijal, S., & Azis, M. (2024). Sustainable Management of Mukim Customary Forests in Aceh Jaya Regency: An Analysis of The Role of Imuem Mukim. JIAP (Jurnal Ilmu Administrasi Publik), 12(2), 179–190. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.31764/jiap.v12i2.26088
Wance, M., Layn, S. B., Collins, J. T., & Syahidah, U. (2025). The Existence and Role of Indigenous Leadership in Local Governance: A Systematic Review of Indonesian Case Studies. Journal of Government Science Studies, 4(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.30598/jgssvol4issue1page1-11
Zainuddin, M. (2019). Menelisik Keberadaan Mukim di Aceh: Suatu Pendekatan Historis, Sosiologis dan Yuridis. Ar-Raniry Press.
Zulkifli, Z., Akmal, M., Abubakar, M. Bin, & Mulyadi, M. (2021). The Role of Imum Mukim in Gampong Governance in Paya Bakong District of North Aceh Regency. Malikussaleh Social and Political Reviews, 2(2), 69–75. https://doi.org/10.29103/mspr.v2i2.6356
