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.