Public Trust, Risk Perception, and Legitimacy in Shaping Community Perceptions of National Strategic Projects: Evidence from Merauke, Indonesia

Abstract

National Strategic Projects (PSN) serve as a key instrument for accelerating economic development and regional equity in Indonesia; However, their implementation often generates diverse public perceptions, particularly in peripheral regions such as Merauke Regency. This study aims to examine the influence of trust, risk perception, and legitimacy on public perception of PSN. Employing a quantitative explanatory approach, data were collected through structured questionnaires using a Likert scale and analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with SmartPLS. The findings reveal that trust and legitimacy have positive and significant effects on public perception, while risk perception has a negative and significant effect. These results indicate that public acceptance of PSN is not solely determined by technical and economic considerations but is strongly influenced by social and psychological factors. The study contributes to the literature by integrating Trust Theory, Risk Perception Theory, and Legitimacy Theory into a unified empirical framework, offering a more comprehensive understanding of public responses to large-scale development policies. Practically, the findings highlight the importance of enhancing transparency, managing perceived risks, and strengthening social legitimacy to improve the effectiveness of policy implementation.