Hierarchy without Domination: Dalihan Natolu as a Relational Model of Justice and Religious Moderation among the Batak

Febri Kurnia Manoppo; Jenri Ambarita

doi:10.31330/penamas.v39i1.1082

Penulis

Febri Kurnia Manoppo Hoseo University
Jenri Ambarita Hoseo University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31330/penamas.v39i1.1082

Kata Kunci:

dalihan natolu, kesetaraan asimetris, keadilan resiprokal, modal sosial lokal, moderasi beragama

Abstrak

Penelitian ini mengkaji paradoks dalam Dalihan Natolu, sistem kekerabatan fundamental masyarakat Batak: bagaimana tatanan yang hierarkis dan berbasis peran warisan — hula-hula, dongan tubu, dan boru — dapat menghasilkan relasi egaliter sekaligus menopang moderasi beragama. Paradoks ini sulit dijelaskan teori keadilan liberal John Rawls yang berpijak pada individualisme dan kebebasan dasar yang setara, sehingga cenderung memandang hierarki askriptif sebagai antitesis keadilan. Dengan menjadikan Rawls sebagai titik tolak sekaligus lawan tanding, penelitian ini membaca Dalihan Natolu melalui paradigma keadilan relasional — egalitarianisme relasional, "kesetaraan kompleks" komunitarian, dan etika kepedulian — serta teori pertukaran timbal balik untuk menjelaskan mekanismenya. Pertanyaannya: melalui mekanisme apa, dan dengan batas-batas apa, peran yang berbeda-beda dapat menghasilkan kewajaran dan kesetaraan? Dengan pendekatan kualitatif, data dihimpun melalui wawancara mendalam, observasi partisipatif, dan analisis konten materi audiovisual. Temuan menunjukkan kesetaraan asimetris: kewajiban timbal balik yang berputar membuat keunggulan dalam satu relasi diimbangi posisi lebih rendah dalam relasi lain, sehingga hierarki tidak mengeras menjadi dominasi permanen. Yang penting, mekanisme ini melampaui sekat agama — ikatan marga yang melintasi batas keyakinan menjadi penggerak kohesi dan kerja sama lintas iman — sekaligus menyimpan ketegangan internal pada dimensi gender dan beban adat. Penelitian ini menawarkan Dalihan Natolu sebagai model keadilan relasional berakar budaya yang menantang asumsi liberal bahwa peran askriptif meniadakan keadilan, serta menyarankan agar kebijakan moderasi beragama dibangun di atas kekerabatan lintas agama, bukan wacana toleransi yang abstrak.

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