Complex Adaptive System Approach in Coastal Poverty Alleviation: Evidence from Takalar Regency, Indonesia

Abstract

This study examines the implementation of the Complex Adaptive System approach in coastal poverty alleviation governance in Takalar Regency, Indonesia. The research aims to analyze how interactions among multiple actors, adaptive governance mechanisms, and emergent socio-economic patterns shape poverty reduction efforts within vulnerable coastal communities. A qualitative case study approach was employed through in-depth interviews, observations, and document analysis involving government institutions, village administrations, community facilitators, non-governmental organizations, and coastal residents. The findings indicate that coastal poverty alleviation in Takalar operates through dynamic interactions among heterogeneous actors rather than through linear bureaucratic mechanisms. Government institutions, local communities, and non-governmental organizations continuously exchange information, coordinate interventions, and adapt policies to environmental and socio-economic changes. The study also reveals that coastal communities develop adaptive livelihood strategies, including fisheries diversification, seaweed cultivation, and community-based enterprises, to strengthen resilience against uncertainty. Furthermore, new socio-economic patterns emerge through collaborative governance, local innovation, and community participation. The novelty of this research lies in integrating the Complex Adaptive System framework with coastal poverty governance analysis at the local government level. The study contributes theoretically to adaptive governance literature and practically provides policy insights for designing more responsive, collaborative, and sustainable poverty alleviation strategies in coastal regions.