This study intend to explain how governmentality in the form of certification of sustainable palm oil plantation which is a market-based instrument is carried out, which produces unintended consequences, through a study of small farmers and its response to the certification. Governmentality is an effort to direct human behavior in a series of ways that have been calculated in such a way, and is one model of power relations. While Unintended Consequences or impacts that are not intended, or not calculated or undesirable, are something that arises from the primary purpose of a program. Unintended consequences are present in human social life and represent one of the fundamental causes of social imbalance and social change.

Using qualitative methods, this study explores a variety of rich data in the field, obtained through in-depth interviews, participatory observation, including the search for related library materials.

This study provides a new understanding related to how the natural resource management governmentality policies implemented are then responded by the target groups based on the consequences arise that were not previously calculated. This study also becomes important if it is put in the framework of theoretical development, because governmentality has not been widely studied in terms of dynamics caused by unintended consequences, especially those that are unwanted and detrimental to individuals. Unintended Consequences give feedback on governmentality and trigger the emergence of improvements or just patchwork or even failure in the regulatory program. The use of the unintended consequences paradigm along with the governmentality approach that has not been found in anthropological studies is expected to fill the gap.