Social Capital and Adaptive Governance: Pathways to Sustainability in Indonesia's Tourism Villages

ABSTRACT This study examines the role of social capital in enhancing adaptive capacity in tourism villages, focusing on Pujon Kidul Village, Indonesia, as a single case study centered on local residents. Although previous studies associate social capital with community resilience, empirical evidence remains inconclusive regarding which dimensions are most influential and how they shape adaptive governance in tourism village contexts. This study assesses the effects of reciprocity, trust in government actors, social networks, and perceived power on community adaptability. A quantitative approach was employed using Structural Equation Modeling with Partial Least Squares. Data were collected from 160 household heads through a structured questionnaire, with informed consent obtained and responses anonymized. The results indicate that the model explains 47.8% of the variance in adaptive capacity. Social networks and perceived power have significant positive effects on adaptive capacity, whereas reciprocity and trust in government actors do not show direct effects. These findings suggest that internal social dynamics, particularly, collaboration, empowerment, and community participation, play a more decisive role in strengthening resilience than institutional trust in this context. The study contributes theoretically by refining the concept of adaptive capacity through the integration of social capital dimensions with sustainability transition and resilience perspectives. Its novelty lies in highlighting the combined importance of social networks and perceived power as key foundations of adaptive governance in rural communities. Practically, the findings provide evidence‐based insights for inclusive and participatory rural development policies that support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 8, 11, and 13.