Linking social capital as a mechanism towards self-reliant villages

Social capital provides a mechanism for connecting rural communities with external stakeholders to advance sustainable development. Using qualitative research in Bejiharjo Village, Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, this study explores how linking social capital is associated with progress towards Self-Reliant Village (Desa Mandiri) status. The research identifies key actors and develops an empirically grounded framework for building and activating external connections. The findings identify key forms of linkage that strengthen rural communities through strategic social capital activation. The analysis demonstrates that strengthened village leadership capacity to leverage social networks, improve intergroup interactions, and foster village cooperation is fundamental to sustainable development outcomes. These results provide practical frameworks for rural communities seeking to harness external partnerships while maintaining local autonomy and offer innovative solutions for strengthening village resilience through synergistic social capital deployment.