The Relationship Between Pesantren And Students' Guardians From The Perspective Of Rousseau's Social Contract Theory

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between pesantren and students' guardians through the lens of Rousseau's Social Contract Theory. Amid the structural transformation of pesantren into hybrid institutions integrating traditional authority and modern digital management, tensions increasingly emerge between institutional regulations and parental interventions. Previous studies on pesantren management have predominantly focused on leadership, digitalization, and accountability, leaving a gap in analyzing the sociological dynamics between guardians and pesantren as a moral contract. This research employs a qualitative-descriptive case study approach, involving participatory observation and in-depth interviews with key informants, including the kiai, education managers, student affairs officers, and representatives of guardians. Data were analyzed thematically using Rousseau's concepts of General Will, Particular Will, sovereignty, and the role of The Legislator as interpretive frameworks. The findings reveal that disciplinary violations by guardians—such as forced leave permissions and unauthorized visits—reflect not merely technical noncompliance but a philosophical failure to internalize the collective will of the institution. The erosion of “pasrah” (trust-based surrender of authority) and the persistence of emotional intervention demonstrate a shift from affective commitment to calculative commitment. This study contributes theoretically by contextualizing classical Western political philosophy within Islamic educational institutions and by repositioning guardians as moral subjects of an educational contract. Practically, it recommends revitalizing contract literacy, strengthening data-based permission systems, empowering local guardians as discipline ambassadors, and utilizing digital platforms to reinforce institutional trust. Reconstructing the pesantren–guardian relationship on the foundation of collective sovereignty is essential for sustaining educational integrity and character formation.