Industri gula merupakan salah satu bagian dalam perekonomian di era kolonial. Hal ini terlihat dari berbagai kebijakan yang diterapkan untuk meningkatkan produksi gula di Hindia Belanda, contohnya di Pabrik Gula Jatibarang, Kabupaten Brebes. Pabrik Gula Jatibarang memberikan dampak signifikan dalam aspek ekonomi. Penelitian sebelumnya mengenai Pabrik Gula Jatibarang kurang menekankan bagaimana kebijakan internal dan eksternal Pabrik Gula Jatibarang itu berpengaruh dalam meningkatkan industri tebu di era kolonial. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode penelitian sejarah yang melibatkan heuristik, kritik sumber, interpretasi, dan historiografi. Dalam proses heuristik, penelitian menggunakan sumber seperti arsip, surat kabar, dan majalah sezaman, serta artikel yang memiliki pembahasan serupa. Penelitian ini menganalisis sejarah berdirinya Pabrik Gula Jatibarang, bagaimana implementasi kebijakan internal dan eksternal Pabrik Gula Jatibarang dalam mendorong perekonomian masyarakat sekitar di era kolonial, dan dampaknya pada aspek ekonomi dan sosial. Periode tahun 1910-1940 menjadi era yang penting dalam perkembangan Pabrik Gula Jatibarang. Meskipun program kebijakan internal dan eksternal Pabrik Gula Jatibarang sukses dalam mendongkrak produksi gula, pada awal 1939-an terjadi penurunan produksi yang mengakibatkan kekacauan sosial di masyarakat, hal inilah yang kemudian memunculkan dinamika Pabrik Gula Jatibarang. Diharapkan penelitian ini memberikan kontribusi penting dalam memahami dinamika Pabrik Gula Jatibarang dan pengaruhnya dalam aspek ekonomi di era kolonial.

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The sugar industry was a key part of the economy in the colonial era. This is evident from the various policies implemented to increase sugar production in the Dutch East Indies, for example, at the Jatibarang Sugar Factory in Brebes Regency. The Jatibarang Sugar Factory had a significant economic impact. Previous research on the Jatibarang Sugar Factory did not emphasize how the internal and external policies of the factory influenced the improvement of the sugar cane industry during the colonial era. This research uses historical methods involving heuristics, source criticism, interpretation, and historiography. In the heuristic process, the research utilizes sources such as contemporary newspapers and magazines, as well as articles with similar discussions. This study analyzes the history of the establishment of the Jatibarang Sugar Factory, the implementation of its internal and external policies in encouraging the economy of the surrounding community during the colonial era, and the impact on economic and social aspects. The period from 1910 to 1940 was an important era in the development of the Jatibarang Sugar Factory. Even though the factory's internal and external policy programs were successful in boosting sugar production, in the late 1940s there was a decline in production which resulted in social chaos in society. This led to the dynamics of the Jatibarang Sugar Factory. It is hoped that this research will provide an important contribution to understanding the dynamics of the Jatibarang Sugar Factory and its influence on economic aspects during the colonial era.