Cultural Norms in Action: A Qualitative Inquiry into Cooperative Governance and Social Sustainability in Urban Makassar
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59971/jumawa.v3i1.378Keywords:
Cultural Norms, Cooperative Governance, Social Sustainability, Qualitative Research, MakassarAbstract
This study explores how cultural norms shape cooperative governance and social sustainability in the urban context of Makassar, Indonesia. Employing a qualitative research design, data were collected through in-depth interviews, participant observations, and document analysis from multiple cooperative organizations. The findings reveal that indigenous cultural values—particularly gotong royong (mutual cooperation), musyawarah mufakat (consensus deliberation), and sipakatau (mutual respect)—play a pivotal role in defining governance practices, member participation, and collective trust. These norms reinforce social cohesion and long-term sustainability but also create tensions between traditional hierarchies and modern demands for accountability and transparency. The study contributes to existing scholarship by introducing a hybrid model of “culturally embedded governance,” where traditional collectivist ethics coexist with adaptive institutional practices. This research provides theoretical and practical insights into how local cultural frameworks can serve as a foundation for sustainable governance in rapidly urbanizing societies.
Downloads
References
Amir, H., & Irjayanti, M. (2023). Cultural norms and local cooperatives: Implications for community-based governance. Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, 54(2), 112–128.
Boström, M. (2012). A conceptual framework for studying social sustainability. Sustainability: Science, Practice, and Policy, 8(1), 1–8.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101.
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Fathurrahman, A., & Arsyad, L. (2021). Governance issues in cooperatives: A case of Indonesian urban economies. Journal of Cooperative Studies, 38(1), 45–60.
Granovetter, M. (1985). Economic action and social structure: The problem of embeddedness. American Journal of Sociology, 91(3), 481–510.
Hakim, M. A., & Supriadi, A. (2023). Social sustainability and local governance: Insights from urban Indonesia. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Administration, 45(3), 201–218.
Hidayat, R., Rahmawati, S., & Yulianto, B. (2021). Governance models in Indonesian cooperatives: Lessons for sustainability. Journal of Development Studies, 57(6), 921–939.
Kurniawan, D., & Lestari, F. (2023). Urban cooperative adaptation to socio-economic change: A resilience perspective. Sustainability, 15(5), 2663.
Lim, J., & Setiawan, E. (2020). Institutional embeddedness of cooperatives in Southeast Asia. Asian Journal of Social Science, 48(4), 435–452.
Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. SAGE Publications.
Manurung, R., & Napitupulu, T. (2022). Social capital and community-based governance: Lessons from Southeast Asia. Journal of Asian Social Science, 18(4), 45–59.
Mariana, T., & Dwi, P. (2023). Indigenous cultural values as factors influencing cooperative governance in Indonesia. Asian Journal of Community Development, 9(2), 112–130.
Mulyani, S., & Fauzan, R. (2023). Social capital and sustainability in Indonesian cooperatives. Journal of Sustainable Development Studies, 15(3), 201–219.
Nasution, H., & Dewi, R. (2022). Building trust networks in Indonesian cooperatives. International Journal of Social Economics, 49(9), 1305–1321.
North, D. C. (1990). Institutions, institutional change and economic performance. Cambridge University Press.
Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative research and evaluation methods: Integrating theory and practice (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Prasetyo, A., & Susanto, M. (2021). Rural cooperatives and social embeddedness: Cultural perspectives from Indonesia. Community and Enterprise Review, 11(2), 33–49.
Puspitasari, D. (2025). Governance and social well-being: Cooperative contributions to urban sustainability. Journal of Social Policy, 54(1), 88–104.
Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling alone: The collapse and revival of American community. Simon & Schuster.
Rahim, S., & Nurdin, F. (2024). Gender norms and leadership in Indonesian cooperatives. Gender, Work & Organization, 31(2), 259–275.
Scott, W. R. (2014). Institutions and organizations: Ideas, interests, and identities (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Situmorang, B., & Pasaribu, R. (2022). Cultural factors affecting cooperative performance in Indonesia. International Journal of Social Economics, 49(7), 995–1010.
Sudirman, H., & Rahman, M. (2024). Informal hierarchy and governance in Southeast Asian cooperatives. Journal of Organizational Studies, 29(1), 85–102.
