Penelitian ini dilatarbelakangi oleh kebijakan nasional mengenai percepatan pembentukan Koperasi Desa Merah Putih sebagai instrumen penguatan ekonomi kerakyatan di desa. Dalam implementasinya, pembentukan koperasi tersebut menimbulkan persoalan terkait penerapan prinsip otonomi desa, khususnya mengenai partisipasi masyarakat, kewenangan desa, dan efektivitas pengawasan koperasi. Di Kabupaten Kuningan, pembentukan Koperasi Desa Merah Putih masih menghadapi berbagai kendala, seperti dominasi kebijakan yang bersifat top-down, keterbatasan sumber daya manusia, serta potensi tumpang tindih kewenangan dengan Badan Usaha Milik Desa (BUMDes). Tujuan Penelitian ini untuk menganalisis penerapan otonomi desa dalam pembentukan dan pengawasan Koperasi Desa Merah Putih di Kabupaten Kuningan. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah yuridis empiris dengan spesifikasi deskriptif-analitis melalui studi kepustakaan dan penelitian lapangan. Teknik pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui wawancara, observasi, dan dokumentasi, kemudian dianalisis secara kualitatif menggunakan teori otonomi desa, teori kewenangan, dan teori sistem hukum. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa secara normatif pembentukan dan pengawasan Koperasi Desa Merah Putih telah memiliki dasar hukum yang jelas. Namun, dalam praktiknya penerapan otonomi desa belum berjalan optimal karena proses pembentukan koperasi masih cenderung bersifat top-down sehingga partisipasi masyarakat desa belum maksimal. Pengawasan internal dan eksternal juga belum efektif akibat rendahnya kapasitas sumber daya manusia dan lemahnya tata kelola administrasi koperasi. Simpulan penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa penerapan otonomi desa dalam pembentukan dan pengawasan Koperasi Desa Merah Putih belum sepenuhnya mencerminkan prinsip kemandirian desa. Saran perlu adanya penguatan kapasitas aparatur desa dan pengurus koperasi, serta diperlukan penguatan harmonisasi regulasi dari pusat sampai desa, dan mekanisme pengawasan agar tata kelola koperasi desa dapat berjalan lebih efektif, partisipatif, transparan, dan berkelanjutan.

This research is motivated by the national policy regarding the acceleration of the establishment of Red and White Village Cooperatives as an instrument for strengthening the people’s economy in villages. In its implementation, the establishment of these cooperatives raises issues related to the application of village autonomy principles, particularly concerning community participation, village authority, and the effectiveness of cooperative supervision. In Kuningan Regency, the establishment of Red and White Village Cooperatives still faces various obstacles, such as the dominance of top-down policies, limited human resources, and the potential overlap of authority with Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes). The purpose of this research is to analyze the implementation of village autonomy in the establishment and supervision of Red and White Village Cooperatives in Kuningan Regency. The research method used is empirical juridical with descriptive-analytical specifications through library research and field studies. Data collection techniques were carried out through interviews, observations, and documentation, which were then analyzed qualitatively using the theories of village autonomy, authority, and legal system theory. The results of the research indicate that normatively, the establishment and supervision of Red and White Village Cooperatives already have a clear legal basis. However, in practice, the implementation of village autonomy has not run optimally because the cooperative establishment process still tends to be top-down, resulting in less-than-optimal community participation. Internal and external supervision has also not been effective due to the low capacity of human resources and weak cooperative administrative governance. The conclusion of this research shows that the implementation of village autonomy in the establishment and supervision of Red and White Village Cooperatives has not fully reflected the principles of village independence. It is recommended that there should be strengthening of the capacity of village officials and cooperative administrators, increased community participation in decision-making, and harmonization of authority between village cooperatives and BUMDes so that village cooperative governance can operate more effectively, participatively, and sustainably.