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The implementation of local democracy in Indonesia faces challenges when the electoral and procedural mechanisms regulated in modern village administration are not fully in line with the socio-cultural traditions of indigenous communities. Many villages still strongly uphold the values, norms, and authority of traditional institutions that have historically regulated communal life, including in terms of leadership legitimacy. Tension between formal democracy and customary values arises when the village political process is perceived as not reflecting the cultural identity of the community. This situation creates a need to understand how the integration of customary institutions can strengthen the legitimacy of village leaders in the local democratic system. This study uses a literature review method with a content analysis approach because the study focuses on the concept of the role of customary institutions in strengthening local democracy and the legitimacy of village leadership. This method allows researchers to explore theories and compare previous findings to form a systematic understanding. The research data comes from 19 secondary sources in the form of scientific books and journal articles published between 2016 and 2025 that are relevant to the themes of customs, village governance, community participation, and local leadership. The search was conducted using the Publish or Perish application with purposive sampling techniques to select sources directly related to the main research issue. This study concludes that the integration of traditional institutions into local democracy produces a model of village leadership that is legally strong and culturally rooted. This integration provides a basis for strengthening local democracy based on cultural wisdom, thereby supporting village development.

Digital transformation has become an essential approach for MSMEs to improve their operational efficiency and market competitiveness. This research investigates the acceptance of electronic payment systems among MSMEs using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Data were obtained through questionnaires distributed to MSME respondents and analyzed using the bootstrapping technique to evaluate the significance of variable relationships. The findings reveal that Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU) has a significant impact on both Perceived Usefulness (PU) and Attitude Toward Using (ATU). Moreover, PU and ATU exert positive influences on Behavioral Intention (BI), with R² values of 0.65 for ATU and 0.71 for BI. These results suggest that the perceived ease of use and usefulness of electronic payment systems play a crucial role in shaping MSMEs’ attitudes and intentions toward adopting digital technologies. This study offers insights for formulating effective digital transformation strategies for MSMEs through the implementation of electronic payment systems.

Modernization, a global phenomenon, significantly impacts religious life, challenging religions to maintain their relevance amidst rapid social changes. This study aims to examine how religion, particularly Islam, can transform without losing its traditional essence, and to map the dynamics between tradition and modernity in religious practice. Employing a qualitative descriptive approach and library research methods, data were collected through literature review and analyzed thematically.The findings reveal a tension between tradition, perceived as a sacred heritage, and modernity, often suspected of introducing secular values. However, modernization also offers opportunities for religion to adapt through innovative outreach and reinterpretation of teachings. It is found that reinterpretation of religious teachings is crucial for contextual relevance, refreshing the understanding of universal values without altering the core doctrines. Furthermore, religion is not merely an object of modernization but also a vital actor in driving just social transformation, serving as a corrective force and an agent for civilizational development.In conclusion, religious modernization is an interactive process demanding responses from religious communities. The reinterpretation of doctrines is key to religion's ongoing relevance, and the synergy between tradition and transformation allows religion to remain pertinent and a moral guide in the globalized era.