Local Champions As A Bridge Actor In The Development Of Palembapang Cultural Tourism Village

Abstract

This research discusses how local champions in the concept of livelihood act as bridge actors in organizing stakeholders. To elaborate on this, Palembapang Village became the subject of the research. The background for choosing this location is that local champions use weak ties to social networks to contact other stakeholders (in this case HMJ Sosiologi FISIP Unila) through social media. Thus, in this study, the analytical knife used is Granovetter's theoretical argument, namely the strength of weak ties in social networks. This academic argumentation describes how organizing patterns are formed through the role of local champions. The research method used is qualitative with an explanatory case study approach. The process of selecting informants is based on specific criteria and is part of this organizational relationship pattern. This series of research activities found that weak ties allow the community to receive new information and innovate their work patterns. Meanwhile, strong ties limit the development and organization of stakeholders in rural communities. This is because the more robust the relationship in the social network, the tendency is to maintain the network to remain stable. This does not happen in weak networks, so it is more flexible.