Social Justice Perspectives on Poverty Reduction and Community Empowerment

Andy Arif (Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia)
Gita Susanti Arifin (Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Negeri Makassar, Makassar, Indonesia)
Muhammad Rusdy (Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Negeri Makassar, Makassar, Indonesia)

Moccasin Journal De Public Perspective
Vol. 3 No. 3 (2026): Moccasin Journal De Public Perspective (MJDPP)

This study examines poverty reduction and community empowerment through the lens of social justice to understand how equitable access, inclusive participation, and collaborative governance contribute to sustainable development outcomes. A qualitative case study approach was employed, involving interviews, observations, and document analysis with stakeholders engaged in community empowerment and poverty alleviation programs. The findings reveal that equitable access to resources and opportunities enhances community capacity, while meaningful participation strengthens local ownership and collective agency. Furthermore, inclusive governance fosters collaboration, trust, and accountability, thereby improving the sustainability of poverty reduction initiatives. The novelty of this study lies in the integration of distributive justice, procedural justice, and recognition justice into a comprehensive framework linking social justice and community empowerment. The findings demonstrate that poverty reduction is more effective when empowerment strategies address structural inequalities and social exclusion. This research contributes to the advancement of social justice and development literature while providing practical guidance for policymakers seeking to design more inclusive and sustainable poverty alleviation programs.