Prof. Ery Seda believes that poverty is a condition where an individual or group of individuals is in a disadvantaged position compared to other groups in a society. In one conceptual study, poverty is seen as Absolute Social Deprivation and Relative Social Deprivation. Absolute Social Deprivation highlights the condition of a group of people who are unable to obtain basic needs for daily life, while Relative Social Deprivation examines the gap between the condition of a group of people and the living conditions of the majority of society.
Poverty in the context of Relative Social Deprivation is a social problem that is closely related to social exclusion and social well-being. Social exclusion is a concept that indicates a lack of access to resources and services accompanied by a lack of participation in social support and social networks. Well-being is associated with happiness and life satisfaction. One form of life satisfaction is social well-being, namely economic satisfaction which is linked to individual happiness.
According to Prof. Ery, well-being conditions can be an indicator of community welfare, and this is influenced by various inclusive social policies implemented by the government for the community. Therefore, she examined the relationship between poverty, social exclusion and social well-being using the Development Studies Perspective, namely the perspective of Triangulated Relations between State, Market and Society.
The results of research conducted by Prof. Ery shows that poverty, social exclusion, and social well-being have quite diverse and complex relationships. The more inclusive social policies are established, the lower social exclusion—including poverty—tends to be, and this increases social inclusion as part of the quality of life and an indication of increasing social well-being.
Social well-being is influenced by several factors. First, state social policies originating from local, national, and regional government officials are inclusive. Second, the market Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, namely business actors, especially national and transnational corporations. Third, society, consisting of social groups and local communities, CSO/Civil Society Organizations, non-profit foundations, and voluntary organizations that have the ability to empower themselves and be more independent.
She said this at his inauguration as a UI professor. Rector of the Universitas Indonesia (UI), Prof. Ari Kuncoro, S.E., M.A., Ph.D, inaugurated Prof. Dra. Francisia Saveria Sika Ery Seda, M.A., Ph.D. as Professor in the Field of Development Studies, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) UI, Wednesday (6/12), at the UI Depok Campus Convention Hall. At the inauguration procession, Prof. Ery delivered a scientific oration entitled “Poverty, Social Exclusion, and Social Well-being from a Development Studies Perspective”.
According to her, the state is not the only party that can provide solutions to problems of poverty and social exclusion. The market can also provide solutions to social problems through various CSR programs. “Perhaps it is necessary to consider making local communities and stakeholders not only as stakeholders, but also company shareholders,” she said.
On the other hand, society–with increased independence and self-empowerment in decentralization, especially regional autonomy–will increasingly have the capacity, capability and collaboration to find effective solutions in dealing with various problems. Therefore, it is hoped that the Development Studies Perspective can contribute to the study and provide solutions to the problems of poverty and social exclusion, thereby helping to improve the conditions of social well-being for Indonesian society.
Prof. Ery’s research on the problem of poverty is one of many studies that have been carried out before. Some of them are Social Inclusion Challenges and the Future of Relational Wellbeing: The Case of Indonesia and South Korea (2023); Community Still Matters: Horizontal and Vertical Interrelation of Social Advantages in Explaining Personal Well-being in Indonesia (2022); and Benefits, Views and Alternatives of Social Forestry Programs in Two Reference Groups, Pemalang Regency (2022).
Prof. Ery completed her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, FISIP UI in 1987; completed her master’s degree in Asian Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States in 1989; and graduated from PhD-Development Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States in 2001. She served as Chair of the Editorial Board of SOCIETY: Journal of Sociology (MJS) for the period 2008–2016; and Chair of the Department of Sociology, FISIP UI for the 2017–2020 period.
The inauguration procession of professor Prof. Ery was also attended by the Bishop of the Jakarta Archdiocese, Cardinal Prof. Dr. Ignatius Suharyo, Pr; Bishop of the Maumere Diocese, Bishop Edualdus Martinus Sedu, Pr; Kompas Gramedia Group CEO, Lilik Oetama; Deputy Governor of East Nusa Tenggara for the 2018–2023 period, Dr. Yosef Adreanus Nae Soi; Chairman of the Atma Jaya Foundation Management, Linus M. Setiadi; Chairman of STF Driyarkara, Dr. Simon L. Cahyadi, Pr; and Chairman of the Board of Wahana Visi Indonesia, Guntur Tampubolon.
