Electronic Theses and Dissertation

ABSTRAK


Keterlibatan sejumlah kepala desa di Kecamatan Meureudu Kabupaten Pidie Jaya,
pada pilkada Aceh 2024 dalam politik praktis dengan mendukung salah satu
pasangan calon Bupati dan Wakil Bupati telah melanggar prinsip netralitas yang
diatur dalam Undang-Undang Nomor 6 Tahun 2014. Penelitian ini bertujuan
untuk menganalisis bentuk politik praktis yang dilakukan oleh kepala desa dalam
pilkada Aceh 2024 dan mengidentifikasi faktor penyebab kepala desa sulit untuk
bersikap netral dalam kontestasi politik lokal, di Kecamatan Meureudu Kabupaten
Pidie Jaya. Teori yang digunakan dalam penelitian yaitu teori tiga dimensi
kekuasaan oleh Steven Lukes dengan metode kualitatif deskriptif. Pengumpulan
data melalui wawancara, observasi, dan dokumentasi. Hasil penelitian
menunjukkan bahwa bentuk keterlibatan kepala desa adalah berpartisipasi dalam
kegiatan kampanye akbar salah satu pasangan calon. Faktor penyebabnya yaitu
keterikatan relasi sosial dalam hubungan hierarkis antara kepala desa dan bupati
petahana, keterbatasan sosialisasi panitia pengawas pemilihan (Panwaslih) Pidie
Jaya, serta lemahnya implementasi aturan dalam penegakan sanksi terhadap
pelanggaran netralitas ASN/Kepala Desa. Kesimpulannya yaitu demokrasi lokal
Aceh masih dibayangi loyalitas politik dan keterikatan sosial-politik kuat. Oleh
karena itu, untuk menegakkan netralitas memerlukan upaya sistematis berupa
penguatan regulasi dan penegasan sanksi oleh Kemendagri dan pemerintah Aceh,
prioritas alokasi anggaran sosialisasi langsung kepada kepala desa oleh panwaslih,
pengawasan aktif forum kepala desa oleh Dinas Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Desa,
kesadaran masyarakat dalam mengawasi kepala desa dan komitmen kepala desa
menjaga integritas profesionalnya demi demokrasi sehat di tingkat desa.

Kata kunci: Kekuasaan, netralitas, pilkada, politik praktis

ABSTRACT The involvement of a number of village heads in Meureudu Sub-district, Pidie Jaya Regency, in the 2024 Aceh regional elections through their engagement in practical politics specifically by supporting one of the candidate pairs for Regent and Deputy Regent has violated the principle of neutrality as stipulated in Law No. 6 of 2014. This study aims to analyse the forms of practical politics engaged in by village heads in the 2024 Aceh regional elections and to identify the factors causing village heads to find it difficult to remain neutral in local political contests, specifically in Meureudu Sub-district, Pidie Jaya Regency. The theory employed in this study is Steven Lukes’ three-dimensional theory of power, utilising a descriptive qualitative method. Data collection was conducted through interviews, observation, and documentation. The research findings indicate that the form of village head involvement consists of participating in the large-scale campaign activities of one of the candidate pairs. The contributing factors include social ties within the hierarchical relationship between the village head and the incumbent regent, the limited outreach of the Pidie Jaya Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslih), and the weak implementation of regulations regarding the enforcement of sanctions against breaches of civil servant/village head neutrality. The conclusion is that local democracy in Aceh remains overshadowed by political loyalty and strong socio-political ties. Therefore, upholding neutrality requires systematic efforts, including the strengthening of regulations and the enforcement of sanctions by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Aceh government; prioritising the allocation of funds for direct public awareness campaigns to village heads by the Election Supervisory Board; active monitoring of village head forums by the Department of Village Community Empowerment; public awareness in monitoring village heads; and the commitment of village heads to maintaining their professional integrity for the sake of a healthy democracy at the village level. Keywords: Power, neutrality, local elections, practical politics