Experimenting collaborative urbanism: the experience of megacity Jakarta

• Main Authors: Amir, Sulfikar, Ufaira, R. M., Ramadhan, D. M., Nastiti, A.
• Other Authors: School of Social Sciences
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2024
• Subjects: Social Sciences; Collaborative urbanism; Urban governance
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/181033
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

In dealing with the complexity of urban challenges, what forms of governing practice that are available for a megacity to resort to? Can a megacity government rely on working with multiple actors to improve urban infrastructures and city resilience? Framed around the concept of collaborative urbanism, this article focuses on “collaboration” as a method of urban governance in a megacity of the Global South to address growing city problems. Situated in Jakarta, Indonesia, this article illustrates the emergence of collaborative urbanism out of political circumstances. The process involves an assemblage of urban actors organized to work together for urban sustainability. Two sectors of urban infrastructure are showcased to assess the efficacy of collaborative practices on building stronger resilience against urban risks in Jakarta. We argue that while democratic and institutional conditions are needed for collaborative urbanism to be meaningfully implemented, leadership matters a great deal in pushing for collaboration to work on the ground.