Partisipasi Masyarakat Dalam Pengambilan Keputusan Strategis Di Desa Bale Dusun 5 Kecamatan Tanantovea Kabupaten Donggala

Abstract

This study aims to examine the forms and levels of community participation in strategic decision-making in Bale Village, Dusun 5, Tanantovea District, Donggala Regency, as well as to identify the factors that influence it. The study employed a descriptive qualitative approach, with data collected through in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation. Data analysis was conducted through data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The findings indicate that formal community participation has been fulfilled through Musrenbang forums and village deliberation mechanisms; however, substantive participation that enables citizens to exert real influence over decision-making has not yet been fully achieved. Based on the participation theory of Damanik and Weber (2006), community involvement in the planning, decision-making, and evaluation dimensions remains limited and is dominated by formal village actors. In contrast, the implementation dimension showed relatively positive outcomes, as evidenced by the successful completion of village infrastructure projects. Applying Simon's (1997) bounded rationality theory, the study also found that limitations in information, time, and cognitive capacity constitute the primary barriers in the decision-making process. The socio-economic conditions of the community, the majority of whom work as farmers from morning to afternoon, emerged as the most dominant structural factor hindering active citizen participation. The study recommends the development of adaptive participation mechanisms that accommodate residents' time constraints, strengthened information transparency, and the establishment of a more participatory and proactive program evaluation system