Why Do Indonesians Only Compare Jakarta with Cities in Other Countries? Why Not Cities on Other Islands Like Makassar or Balikpapan?
Interesting question. Before I answer your question directly, let me give you a bit of background on Indonesia's development policies. First, we have to admit that Indonesia has a history of centralized development policies beginning from the time of independence up to the previous presidential administration, which lasted until the 6th administration. Under the current 7th government, the country has slowly moved away from the inefficient centralized way of internal governance into provincial autonomy, or decentralized its development. This move shows that Indonesia is moving towards a federal system, much like many countries around the world. You can see which countries adopt which systems of governance here.
The Challenges of Centralization in Indonesia
The reason why Indonesia is not suitable for a unitary system is primarily due to its geography. Indonesia is composed of thousands of islands, many of which are kilometers apart. Developing and integrating infrastructure to connect these islands is both expensive and challenging. Even if it seems somewhat possible, it requires a lot of effort from the government, NGOs, industries, and investors.
The Cost and Disadvantages of a Unitary System
Let's discuss the cost and disadvantages of having a unitary system in this geography. One of the main challenges is the supply chain. Transportation costs are significantly higher in Indonesia compared to other countries like the United States, Europe, or South America. National government policies and decisions would take longer to implement across the country, leading to slower development. Uneven development between provinces and cities hinders a more widespread and balanced development across the country.
For instance, Java island, which only constitutes 5% of Indonesia by land size, accounts for 60% of the country's population and almost 60% of its economy. This concentration of resources and population on Java means that other regions, such as Makassar or Balikpapan, cannot easily compare or develop in the same manner.
The Case of Jakarta: A Primate City
Indonesians often compare Jakarta, the capital city with a population of approximately 9 million (excluding Greater Jakarta) to other country's capital cities because there is no such cities in Indonesia that can match its size and importance. Surabaya, the second-largest city in Indonesia, only has a population of about 2.7 million, which is significantly lower. Hence, this condition satisfies the definition of a primate city, where one city is disproportionately larger than the next.
As a result, Jakarta bears a huge burden, and the economic, cultural, trade, and political centers are heavily weighted towards it. This leaves other major cities like Balikpapan and Makassar to grow slowly. This situation has led to the proposal by President Joko Widodo to build a new capital city in East Kalimantan. While this idea has been discussed for years, it has not been realized until now.
The Future of Indonesian Cities
The current government's goal is to reduce some of the pressure on Jakarta and stimulate new economic zones in other major cities. Initiatives like moving to East Kalimantan and developing Medan, Balikpapan, Makassar, Manado, Padang, Jayapura, and Denpasar aim to create a more balanced and sustainable development across the country.
This transition towards a more decentralized and federal system is crucial for the sustainable development of Indonesia's diverse regions. Hopefully, Indonesia will have many other metropolitan areas, each sustainably built and planned, to compete with and complement Jakarta.
References
1. Indonesia's Most Populous Island of Java Continues to Dominate the Economy
2. What Is the Law of the Primate City and the Rank-Size Rule? Citylab
By understanding these concepts and challenges, we can better appreciate the current efforts to decentralize and develop a more balanced national and regional development strategy in Indonesia.