<![CDATA[This study aims to explore community perceptions of the Merah Putih Village Cooperative (KDMP) in Dimembe Sub-District, North Minahasa Regency. KDMP is a strategic government policy aimed at strengthening the village economy through cooperative institutions; however, a gap persists between central policy and local community understanding. This study employed a qualitative approach with a case study method. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 33 informants selected by purposive sampling, participatory observation, documentation study, and Focus Group Discussion (FGD). Data analysis utilized the interactive model of Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña (2020). The findings indicate that: (1) community knowledge of KDMP remains predominantly low (60.6%); (2) community attitudes are dominated by a positive-skeptical pattern (39.4%), stemming from collective trauma caused by negative past experiences with cooperatives; (3) the primary community expectations include access to capital (84.8%), management transparency (75.8%), and capacity building (66.7%); and (4) the most influential factors shaping perceptions are past experiences with cooperatives, socialization intensity, and Mapalus local wisdom values. This study recommends reforming community-based socialization strategies and substantively integrating Mapalus values into village cooperative governance.]]>
Copyrights © 2026
