Community Empowerment Program in Jepara Regency Perceived by Social Capital and Islamic Values

Abstract

Social capital has an important role that influencing social dynamics in a group and functions as external work and internal power that influenced the success of the program. Likewise, social capital affects the success of an existing empowerment program in the community. The purpose of this paper is to examine the empowerment program in Sumber Rejo Cattle Group through social capital and Islamic values and perspective. This study used a qualitative method with data sampling from an informant who comes as a member of the Sumber Rejo Cattle group and the government as stakeholders in this program. The result showed that the conception of social capital as a resource for action is one way of introducing social structure into the rational action paradigm. Three forms of social capital are examined: obligations and expectations, information channels, and social norms. Despite, low social capital caused by violations of cooperation agreements, lack of communication, and anomalies in the formation of other groups caused the program being stagnated. On the other hand, Islam provides solutions to prevent the stagnation of this program, by proceeded inclusive moral values, establishing friendships, and maintaining trust in the all of members.

Keywords

• social capital
• livestock group
• empowerment