Optimizing Village-Level Mediation: Pamulang University Researchers Propose Local Solutions for Dispute Resolution

Ilustration by AI

FORMOSA NEWS

 Researchers Nurul Wahyuni, Awaludin, and Bela Laseba from Pamulang University evaluated and promoted the application of mediation for village-level dispute resolution in Banjaragung Village, Serang Regency, Banten Province, published in September 2026. The study highlights how alternative dispute resolution mechanisms offer swift, low-cost, and peace-preserving solutions to civil conflicts, preventing minor community disagreements from escalating into costly judicial litigation or social unrest.

Background and Context

Banjaragung Village is situated in the Cikande District of Serang Regency, adjacent to a major modern industrial zone. The local population comprises diverse demographics, including farmers, industrial laborers, and small traders. Because most residents hold a secondary education degree or lower, public familiarity with formal court litigation and legal systems remains limited.

In rural environments, common disputes range from land boundary overlaps and family inheritance disagreements to unpaid debts and interpersonal altercations. Pursuing traditional court litigation introduces heavy financial costs, prolonged timelines, and severe strain on long-standing neighborhood relationships. While residents historically rely on informal discussions (musyawarah), the lack of structured legal mediation frameworks often leaves disputes unresolved or vulnerable to recurring tension.

Socio-Legal Research Approach

The Pamulang University research team implemented a multi-stage socio-legal and Community Partnership Program (PKM) approach to analyze and strengthen local mediation structures:

• Preliminary Field Survey: The team surveyed the Banjaragung Village office to evaluate local socio-economic conditions, existing dispute patterns, and community legal awareness.
• Educational Fieldwork: Researchers conducted formal legal education sessions at the village hall involving 50 participants, including 20 adults and 30 local youth.
• Interactive Legal Case Discussions: A two-way interactive session allowed residents to analyze hypothetical and real-life dispute scenarios against existing Indonesian statutory frameworks, such as Law No. 30 of 1999 on Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution and Supreme Court Regulation (PERMA) No. 1 of 2016.

Primary Findings

The evaluation revealed specific structural gaps and high community interest in formalizing local dispute resolution mechanisms:

• Informal Understanding of Legal Mediation: Most residents understood informal family-style deliberation (musyawarah) but were unaware that out-of-court mediation carries formal legal standing under Indonesian law.
• Absence of Village Regulations: Banjaragung Village lacks a formal Village Regulation (Peraturan Desa or Perdes) to govern legal mediation processes and provide clear guidelines for local mediators.
• Mediator Capacity Constraints: Village officials, neighborhood heads, and customary leaders often act as neutral intermediaries, but they lack formal training in neutral conflict resolution and handling complex legal disputes.
• Positive Public Receptivity: Attendees demonstrated strong enthusiasm for alternative dispute resolution, favoring non-adversarial "win-win" solutions over court proceedings to maintain communal solidarity (gotong royong).

Practical Implications and Societal Impact

The findings provide clear avenues for municipal, legal, and educational stakeholders:

• Local Governance Reform: Establishing specific Village Regulations (Perdes) provides a structured framework for non-litigation dispute resolution at the grassroots level.
• Institutional Skill Building: Targeted mediation training for village officials, religious leaders, and customary institutions improves local capacity to handle land and contract disputes systematically.
• Cost and Burden Reduction: Resolving civil disagreements within the village lowers personal legal expenditures for residents and reduces caseload burdens on regional district courts.

Emphasizing the core societal value of non-litigation mechanisms, the Pamulang University research team noted:

"Mediation serves not only as a technical instrument for resolving conflicts, but also as a vital vehicle for legal education that reinforces social solidarity, preserves familial harmony, and strengthens grassroots justice without the burdens of court litigation."

Author Profiles

• Nurul Wahyuni, S.H., M.H. — Lecturer and legal scholar at Pamulang University, specializing in Civil Law, Contract Law, and Alternative Dispute Resolution.
• Awaludin, S.H., M.H. — Lecturer and legal researcher at Pamulang University, specializing in Sociology of Law and Community Law Implementation.
• Bela Laseba, S.H., M.H. — Lecturer and researcher at Pamulang University, focusing on Constitutional Law and Village Governance Policy.

Research Source

Article Title: The Application of Mediation in Dispute Resolution in Banjaragung Village
Journal: Jurnal Multidisplin Madani (MUDIMA)
Publication Year: 2026 (Vol. 6, No. 9, pp. 1174–1179)
DOI : https://doi.org/10.55927/mudima.v6i9.124 

URL : https://journalmudima.my.id/index.php/mudima