Athena: Journal of Social, Culture and Society

Effectiveness of Relocating Street Merchant in The Batik Trusmi Area of Cirebon

Nadiya Fitri Nura’ini — 2026-04-30

The potential of the Trusmi Batik Tourism Area as a space is a problem of space management and traders are not properly organized, as a result the streets are often congested, the condition is chaotic, and the traders are very competitive. To solve this problem, the Cirebon Regency Government initiated a program of relocating traders in July 2025 based on Regional Regulation No 4 of 2021 on Public Order. Program effectiveness was evaluated by Campbell's Evaluation framework in five categories: program success, target accuracy, beneficiary satisfaction, input-output ratio, and goal achievement. In a descriptive type of qualitative strategy, purpose sampling including those from Planning Agency, Street Vendor Association, vendors and visitors. Data collection methods included interview, field observation and documentary review. The data were analyzed as the Miles and Huberman model together with triangulation. The outcomes seem to indicate that the program has been quite successful. Vendor compliance is very high, sales overhead and traffic flow are positively affected, and the community responses are fairly positive. Success has been achieved by planning well, establishing good interagency working relationships and forums for debate, choosing an apposite location in the tourism system, setting up a joint funding scheme and involving community organizations. Despite all these difficulties, there are still some problems being overlooked such as the shortage of weather stations, the potential of future management capacity improvement, and the program framework depending too much on some people. These problems need some more long-term approaches for sustainability.

The Emotional Oversharing in The Quality of Student Friendships In The City of Cirebon

Farida Nurfalah — 2026-04-30

Emotional oversharing is the act of sharing personal information or emotions excessively with others. This study aims to analyze the phenomenon of emotional oversharing among students in Cirebon City and its impact on the quality of friendships. Emotional oversharing refers to the act of sharing personal information or emotions excessively, which can affect the dynamics of interpersonal relationships. The author chose this research topic due to the prevalence of oversharing among university students, particularly in the context of friendship, which often affects the quality of friendships. The research method used was a qualitative approach with a phenomenological design. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with three student informants who had experienced oversharing in their friendships. The results of the study show that psychological factors such as the need for validation, situational factors such as a social environment that supports openness, and relational factors such as the level of familiarity, also influence oversharing. Although oversharing can deepen intimacy in relationships that have been built on trust, the negative impacts are more dominant, such as a decline in the quality of friendships, loss of trust, and the emergence of interpersonal conflicts. These findings emphasize the importance of privacy management in friendship communication, as explained by the Communication Privacy Management (CPM) theory, which highlights the importance of awareness in setting boundaries for personal communication. Overall, this study adds to the understanding of the dynamics of interpersonal communication in the context of friendships among students in Cirebon City.

Utilising Diagnostic Assessment of Learner Mentality to Foster Challenge-Readiness in Chemistry Learning

Dewi Satria Ahmar — 2026-04-30

The global scientific education community is recognizing that students' success in challenging subjects such as chemistry is contingent not only upon cognitive capabilities but also on psychological readiness to confront academic challenges. This study seeks to implement a diagnostic evaluation of learner mentality to characterize students' readiness to confront challenges in chemistry education and to discern essential psychological factors that facilitate or impede adaptive engagement. The study concentrated on evaluating five aspects of learner mentality: persistence, self-confidence, challenge orientation, feedback responsiveness, and emotional regulation among undergraduate chemistry education students, aiming to yield data-driven instructional implications. The urgency of this research is underscored by the persistent disparity between students' conceptual proficiency and their psychological readiness to navigate complex, abstract, and cognitively demanding chemistry content. If teachers don't know how students are mentally preparing for class, they might only deal with surface-level academic problems and ignore deeper emotional and motivational problems that affect students' ability to stay engaged and bounce back. The results show that most students (69.7%) were either Challenge-Ready or Highly Challenge-Ready. The mean score for Feedback Responsiveness (M = 3.90) was the highest, and the mean score for Emotional Regulation (M = 3.51) was the lowest. There were strong links found between persistence and challenge orientation (r = 0.45) and between self-confidence and emotional management (r = 0.38). These findings indicate that enhancing self-confidence and emotional regulation should be prioritized. Subsequent research should investigate intervention-based methodologies to enhance psychological readiness in conjunction with conceptual chemistry education.

Influencer Economy and Consumer Behavior: A Conceptual Analysis of Digital Marketing’s Economic Effects

Filiz Kutluay Tutar — 2026-04-30

This study examines the influencer economy as a foundational component of the digital economy, exploring how digital marketing drives consumer behavior within platform-based markets. Utilizing a conceptual and literature-based approach, the research synthesizes recent studies across digital marketing, consumer behavior, platform economics, and digital labor. To move beyond fragmented perspectives, this study introduces the Value-Conversion Model of Influencer Markets. The analysis demonstrates that digital influence operates through a sequential progression: macro-level structural conditions (algorithmic governance, platform infrastructure, and digital labor) dictate market access; relational mechanisms (source credibility, perceived authenticity, and parasocial interaction) mediate audience persuasion; and behavioral constructs capture the final micro-level economic value (purchase intention, symbolic consumption, and brand loyalty). By explicitly linking psychological mechanisms with the political economy of platforms, the paper situates influencer marketing within broader discussions of asymmetrical value extraction and platform capitalism. Finally, the study highlights significant research gaps related to datafication, regulatory transparency, and cross-platform differences, offering a comprehensive theoretical blueprint for future empirical research and policy development.

Implementation of Green Open Space Policy in Cirebon City as Part of Efforts to Achieve Sustainable Cities and Communities

Gita Aditya Purwandani — 2026-04-30

Green Open Spaces (GOS) are the physical embodiment of sustainable cities and communities that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically the goal of Sustainable Cities and Communities. The provision of green open spaces is regulated under Law No. 26 of 2007 on Spatial Planning, which stipulates that cities and regencies must have at least 30% green open space relative to the total area of the city or regency. The city of Cirebon has only 9.4% green open space within its 39.48 km² area, this figure is still far below the established minimum requirement. Therefore, this study is grounded in Edward III’s theory of policy implementation, using a descriptive qualitative method with interview and direct observation techniques. The results of the study indicate that the implementation of green open spaces in Cirebon City has not been optimally achieved due to land constraints, the large amount of land that has been converted for other uses, and budget limitations. Consequently, the implementation of green open space policies in Cirebon City has not been optimally achieved and is not yet aligned with the SDGs.

The Implementation of the Core Values of “AKHLAK” and their Impact on Service Quality at PT. Taspen Cirebon

Nesha Lavenia — 2026-04-30

The role of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in public service is quite complex. This is because, in addition to pursuing profitability, SOEs are also required to provide high-quality services to the public. To support efforts to ensure quality public service, the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises issued Circular Letter No. SE-7/MBU/07/2020 in 2020 regarding the Core Values of SOE Human Resources. The objective of this study is to explore the implementation of these values in depth and analyze their implications for service quality. The research methodology is descriptive qualitative, utilizing data triangulation from observation, interviews, and documentation. The “AKHLAK” values are implemented into employees’ daily work; for instance, the value of Integrity is demonstrated by employees through high precision and caution when calculating pension benefits and claims, the value of Competence is applied by allocating budgets from headquarters to conduct employee training and education, the value of Harmony is realized through the principle of equality, the value of Loyalty is manifested in compliance with regulations, the value of Adaptability is realized through the digitization of services, and the value of Collaboration is realized through establishing cooperation with various parties. The conclusion drawn is that the “AKHLAK” values have comprehensive implications for the five dimensions of service quality in the SERVQUAL model by Zeithaml et al. Each “AKHLAK” value does not stand alone but is interconnected and reinforces one another in creating quality service.

The Effectiveness of Cirebon Siaga 112 Services in Handling Disaster Emergencies in Cirebon City

Nabiilah Khoirunnisaa — 2026-04-30

This study discusses the Cirebon Siaga 112 service which aims to make it easier for the public to report emergency situations, one of which is a disaster emergency. The Cirebon Siaga 112 service still has several obstacles, including the number of prank calls, uneven socialization, and network disruption from providers. The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of the Cirebon Siaga 112 service and to find out the supporting factors and factors inhibiting the effectiveness of the program in its implementation. This research was conducted using qualitative research methods through interviews, literature studies, and documentation studies. This study uses the theory of program effectiveness according to Budiani in Mutiarin & Khadafi [1] with four indicators: target accuracy, program socialization, program objectives, and program monitoring. The results of the study show that the Cirebon Siaga 112 Service has not been running effectively. A strategy to strengthen socialization to the community and improve network infrastructure is needed so that the Cirebon Siaga 112 service can run effectively.

Effectiveness of Public Services in the Two-Wheeled Motor Vehicle Tax Amnesty Program at the Samsat in Cirebon Regency

Diva Dwi Azahra — 2026-04-30

This study examines the quality of public services in the implementation of the Motor Vehicle Tax Amnesty Program at the Cirebon Regency Samsat. Using a descriptive qualitative method and collecting data through in-depth interviews with the head of the Samsat, front office service officers, and taxpayers who directly benefited from the program. The research analysis framework refers to Campbell's effectiveness theory, which covers five main dimensions: program success, target success, level of satisfaction with the program, the relationship between input and output, and overall goal achievement. The results show that the amnesty program was able to encourage public participation by serving around 8,500–9,000 taxpayers and generating additional regional revenue of approximately Rp 45–55 billion. However, the effectiveness of the program is still influenced by a number of constraints, such as limited infrastructure, relatively long waiting times, and suboptimal human resource capacity. In general, this study concludes that the tax amnesty program is quite effective in increasing tax compliance and regional revenue, but it still requires strengthening of facilities and development of human resources in order to maximize its effectiveness.

Effectiveness Service Public In Increase Child Identity Card Program at the Population Service and Civil Registration of Kuningan Regency

Liza Cristianli Maharani — 2026-04-30

The importance of effective public services will be discussed within the Child Identity Card (KIA) program carried out by the Population and Civil Registration Office of Kuningan Regency. The problems analyzed concern the lack of effectiveness of the provision of KIA services promptly due to the technological limitations of the system, insufficient human resources, and lack of public understanding about the need for KIA. The purpose of this research is to provide a demonstration of the effectiveness of KIA services using the method proposed by Siagian (as cited in Nashar, 2020) based on three aspects: timeliness, accuracy, and service style. These results show that the factor of time is still not fully efficient, even though there are SOPs that range from 1 hour to 24 hours, as it is still dependent on the Department of Population and Civil Registration. on changes in the SIAK system, network problems, geographic factors, and human resources. Nevertheless, when it comes to the matter of accuracy and delivery styles, one may notice some very positive aspects here, because it may include such things as comprehensive procedures for issuance, staff attitude, the utilization of digital services, and good and fair services. As a consequence, one may note that there are a lot of ways to enhance the efficiency of KIA. Thus, future research may consider public satisfaction as one of its major elements.

Inclusive Development: The Contribution of the Next-Generation Social Welfare Information System to the Accountability of Village Assistance Programs

Diva Margareta — 2026-04-30

Inclusive development is the primary objective of the village assistance program. The Next Generation Social Welfare Information System (SIKS-NG) is a solution for improving the accountability of the village assistance program. This study aims to describe the contribution of SIKS -NG in improving the accountability of the village assistance program based on public accountability theory Mahmudi, 2019, regarding the dimensions of accountability that must be fulfilled by public sector organizations, namely Legal and Integrity Accountability, Managerial Accountability, Program Accountability, Policy Accountability, and Financial Accountability. The research method employed a qualitative approach with data collection techniques through interviews and observations, with the main informants being staff from the Social Affairs Office (Integrated Referral Service System) of Cirebon Regency and officers from the Social Welfare Center (PUSKESOS) of Palimanan Timur Village. The research results indicate that SIKS-NG can enhance the accountability of village assistance programs by providing accurate and transparent data, as well as increasing community participation in decision-making. Therefore, as stipulated in Regulation of the Minister of Social Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia No. 3 of 2025 regarding the updating and use of the National Single Social and Economic Data System for social assistance, social empowerment, and social welfare programs, this study aims to promote inclusive development in Palimanan Timur Village. It is hoped that a digital-based system designed to manage the National Social and Economic Single Data System (DTSEN) can be more transparent, accurate, and efficient in its implementation for the community.

The Ambivalence of Host and Discourse on Multiculturalism in Korean Reality TV Show

Fadhila Hasby — 2026-04-30

South Korea implemented multiculturalism in 2006. The implementation of this policy became the backdrop for the emergence of multicultural television programs. Among the existing genres, reality TV shows were chosen by television stations to feature more immigrants on the screens of Korean viewers. Today, television programs have become an important space for representing immigrant identities to local audiences. This study analyzes a reality TV show titled My Neighbor Charles to gain a deeper understanding of the construction of immigrant representation in this program. This study assumes that the construction of immigrant representation is greatly influenced by how host Hong Seok Cheon frames the narrative of immigrant representation. Previous studies have not considered the important role of the host in framing the multiculturalism phenomenon in Korea. This study employs textual analysis and applies Critical Discourse Analysis to examine the data. Findings show that Hong simultaneously reinforces and criticizes the values and norms of the Korean majority. Rather than weakening Korea’s cultural dominance over immigrants, Hong’s ambivalent attitude strengthens its cultural hegemony.