Ketika Gotong Royong Mulai Dihitung dengan Rupiah: Potret Pemberdayaan Masyarakat di Gampong Suak Raya, dari Sebelum Tsunami Sampai Era Dana Desa

This study examines how community empowerment in Gampong Suak Raya, Johan Pahlawan Subdistrict, West Aceh, has evolved from the period before the 2004 tsunami to the post-tsunami period and the village fund era. Data were collected through observation, interviews with purposively selected informants, and documentation, and were analyzed using a qualitative approach. The findings indicate that before the tsunami, community members relied heavily on mutual cooperation (gotong royong) and concern for their neighbors. However, according to the informants, this sense of solidarity declined after the tsunami. During the village fund era, some community members were reported to be willing to participate in village activities only when they received allowances or other forms of compensation. Drawing on Émile Durkheim’s theory of social solidarity, this change is interpreted as a shift from naturally formed communal bonds toward more transactional relationships based on individual benefits and costs. The study recommends that village funds should also be allocated to skills training, productive economic enterprises, and social activities that strengthen mutual cooperation, rather than focusing solely on the provision of financial assistance.