Power Relations in Flood Disaster Mitigation Policy in Aceh Utara

Abstract

This article discusses the power relationship in the implementation of flood mitigation policies in Aceh Utara Regency, especially in Lhoksukon and Matangkuli Districts which are geographically located in lowlands and crossed by the Keureuto River. Floods that occur three to five times a year have shaped the life cycle of communities, but mitigation policies at the local level tend to  be top-down, technocratic, and have not accommodated the adaptive knowledge and practices of citizens. This research uses a qualitative approach through field observation and in-depth interviews with the community, gampong apparatus, and policy makers. The results of the study show that power relations are manifested in information control, decision-making, infrastructure management, and aid distribution, which are often influenced by socio-political proximity. Communities responded through silent resistance and adaptations based on local wisdom, such as building stilt houses, storing rainy season logistics, and leveraging traditional knowledge to read flood signs. This situation illustrates the existence of administrative decentralization without substantive independence, where gampongs become policy implementers without adequate space for participation. This study confirms that successful flood mitigation requires a shift from a dominative pattern to a participatory collaborative pattern. The integration of local knowledge, the strengthening of social institutions, and a fairer distribution of power are prerequisites for creating resilient and sustainable disaster governance.