| Indonesia has experienced a shift from authoritarianism to democracy since the late 1990s. After the severe economic crisis of 1997, which ultimately forced Soeharto to relinquish power, Indonesia embarked on a more liberal and participatory form of democracy. To overcome the economic and social crisis that caused many to fall into poverty, the new government administration launched a number of poverty alleviation programs. This dissertation explores one such effort, namely, the Program Penanggulangan Kemiskinan di Perkotaan (P2KP), an extensive scheme that utilized democratic, participatory, and empowerment approaches to help the poor deal with unemployment and other problems of poverty.;Findings were based on interviews, observation, and reviews of written documents concerning the P2KP poverty alleviation programs. Over 30 individuals were interviewed, ranging from government officials to facilitators and organizers of the programs, non-government activists, and the poor who benefitted or were excluded from the programs. The process of the establishment of community-based organizations, the Badan Keswadayaan Masyarakat (BKM) or Community Self-Reliance Body, in several villages was democratic and participatory. The programs of poverty alleviation in three areas of development, economic, social, and environment/infrastructure, drew popular support and participation, strengthened people's financial and social capitals, protected environments and improved public infrastructures that enabled the poor and other community members to improve their standard of living. The participation of the grassroots population and other segments of society greatly contributed to the success of the programs. The freedom of the poor to choose what programs are best suited to their own needs and local conditions was empowered and motivated them to support the sustainability of the programs.;Keywords. poverty; micro credit; good governance; international social work; Indonesia.;Using qualitative methodology, this study has explored and examined the process and outcomes of poverty alleviation programs in several villages in the southern parts of Sleman District, Yogyakarta Special Province, Indonesia, from February-May 2006. The thesis begins with a review of the literature on the factors leading to poverty, development and participation, globalization and its negative impacts, and various strategies for ending the problems of poverty, such as multiple occupations, empowerment, and human capital improvement. |
