Analisis Sosiologis dan Historis pada Otoritas Keujruen Blang dalam Pengelolaan Persawahan di Aceh

Abstract

Legal recognition of keujruen blang, customary officeholders responsible for organizing rice farming in Aceh, must be considered alongside the exercise of their authority within communities. This study examines shifts in their sources of legitimacy, scope of authority, and exercise of authority within the development of customary institutional regulation. It employs a descriptive qualitative method through library research with historical and sociological approaches. Sources comprise legislation, previous studies, and Max Weber’s concepts of traditional and legal-rational authority. A critical narrative synthesis compares sources of legitimacy, jurisdiction, relationships with formal institutions, and community acceptance. The findings indicate that legal recognition developed before 2008 and was subsequently elaborated through qanun and gubernatorial regulations. The literature reports continuity in water allocation, farming schedules, customary activities, and dispute resolution, alongside overlapping responsibilities, limited organizational capacity, insufficient understanding of duties, and difficulties securing acceptance of decisions in particular contexts. Customary legitimacy and legal foundations can coexist; institutional formalization therefore does not establish a complete transition to legal-rational authority. The study concludes that shifts in authority are better understood as changes in the relationships among customary legitimacy, legal recognition, and the exercise of authority. Institutional strengthening requires clearer responsibilities, coordination with government bodies and farmer organizations, and support for farming knowledge. These conclusions are limited to the selected literature, with historical evidence derived primarily from retrospective accounts.