Capital city relocation in Indonesia: compromise failure and potential dysfunction

Abstract

AbstractThe relocation of Indonesia’s capital city from Jakarta to Nusantara in East Kalimantan, as proposed by President Joko Widodo, represents a profound shift in the nation’s urban and political geography. This initiative, founded on development equity and national unity goals, seeks to shift from an ‘evolved city’ framework to a ‘designed city’ model. However, the rapid decision-making process, which lasted only 43 days, and the apparent lack of inclusive public deliberation and participation in critical decisions raises concerns about the democratic underpinnings of this endeavour. Historical precedents from countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia highlight the benefits of a democratic approach to capital determination, while examples from Nigeria highlight the risks associated with non-democratic processes. For Indonesia, ensuring a democratic, participatory, and inclusive approach is critical not only for successfully relocating the capital but also for preserving the integrative, symbolic, and cultural functions of a capital city. In Indonesia, the hasty passage of the capital city law jeopardizes not only the successful implementation of the relocation but also the integrative, symbolic, and cultural roles that a capital city should play. This paper contends that the absence of democratic and spatial compromise could jeopardize the relocation’s intended goals, putting Indonesia’s new capital’s functional efficacy at risk.

Keywords

• Capital city relocation
• democratic deliberation
• integrative function
• spatial compromise
• national unity
• Cristina Elena Popa Tache, Law, Andrei Şaguna University, Bucharest, Romania