Relocating or retaining the capital city of Jakarta—Evaluation the feasibility, sustainability, and strategic planning of Indonesia in facing the challenges of relocating the national capital from a multidimensional perspective

Isradi Zainal, Rendi Susiswo Ismail, Kiftian Hady Prasetya, Andi Surayya Mappangile, Aziz Thaba, Abdul Karim Mahmut, Amrul Amrul, Cici Mahmut

Article ID: 10920
Vol 9, Issue 1, 2025

VIEWS - 1046 (Abstract)

Abstract


The debate on relocating Indonesia’s national capital from Jakarta stems from critical issues such as overpopulation, social inequality, environmental degradation, and natural disaster risks. These challenges highlight the need to reassess Jakarta’s viability as the nation’s administrative center. This study evaluates Indonesia’s readiness to address the complexities of relocation by analyzing Jakarta’s socio-economic, political, cultural, and geographical conditions. Using a systematic literature review (SLR) with a qualitative approach, the research explores key questions: Do Jakarta’s conditions necessitate relocation? What challenges might arise from the move? How prepared is Indonesia to tackle these challenges? The SLR process includes defining questions, sourcing literature from reputable databases, applying inclusion/exclusion criteria, and synthesizing data for analysis. Findings reveal Jakarta’s multifaceted challenges, including social disparities, environmental degradation, disaster risks, and governance issues, which emphasize the urgency of considering relocation. However, the study also identifies significant hurdles, such as high costs, logistical complexities, potential social conflicts, and environmental risks at the new capital site. Relocating the capital is a strategic and complex undertaking that requires meticulous planning. Indonesia must weigh Jakarta’s current issues, address potential relocation challenges, and ensure readiness for risk mitigation and sustainable development. Comprehensive and thoughtful planning is essential to achieve a successful and balanced transition.


Keywords


relocation of the capital city; Jakarta; Indonesia; feasibility; sustainability; strategic planning; SLR

Full Text:

PDF


References

  1. Afanasyeva, A. N., Safma, R., & Kursina, I. M. (2020). Sustainable cities: major challenges and trends. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 890(1), 012181. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899x/890/1/012181
  2. Ahmed, N. M., & Aref, A. A. E. H. (2019). In transitional periods how does bureaucracy work steadily?. Review of Economics and Political Science, 4(2), 120–137. https://doi.org/10.1108/reps-03-2019-0027
  3. Alene, E. T. (2021). The Effect of Urban Redevelopment Induced Displacement and Resettlement on Social Capital in Ethiopia. Research Square (United States).
  4. Al-Jawari, S. M., Al-Mosawy, S. K., Al-Jabari, A. A., et al. (2020). Strategic Analysis of New Cities (Case Study Basmaya City - Republic of Iraq) An Analytical Study of Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, and Threat. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 459(6), 062108. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/459/6/062108
  5. Arandel, C., & Wetterberg, A. (2013). Between “Authoritarian” and “Empowered” slum relocation: Social mediation in the case of Ennakhil, Morocco. Cities, 30, 140–148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2012.02.005
  6. Arshed, N., Hassan, M. S., Khan, M. U., et al. (2019). Moderating Effects of Logistics Infrastructure Development and Real Sector Productivity: A Case of Pakistan. Global Business Review, 23(3), 676–693. https://doi.org/10.1177/0972150919879307
  7. Azhar, H. N., Fatima, H. H. P., & Tamas, I N. (2020). A preliminary study of Indonesia’s capital city relocation is based on the disaster mitigation principle with the mental model approach. EDP Sciences, 148, 06002-06002. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202014806002
  8. Beramendi, P. (2003). Political Institutions and Income Inequality: The Case of Decentralization. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.473701
  9. Betria, I., & Raju, C. S. (2018). Society Perception Toward Replacement Government Center From Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya Malaysia. Sumatra Journal of Disaster, Geography and Geography Education, 2(2), 73–79. https://doi.org/10.24036/sjdgge.v2i2.155
  10. Boussaa, D. (2017). Urban Regeneration and the Search for Identity in Historic Cities. Sustainability, 10(1), 48. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10010048
  11. Campante, F. R., Do, Q. A., & Guimaraes, B. (2019). Capital Cities, Conflict, and Misgovernance. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 11(3), 298–337. https://doi.org/10.1257/app.20170111
  12. Cazacu, C., & Chiţonu, G. C. (2018). Ecological criteria considering the connections between the construction, building-site and the spatial planning development. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 399, 012006. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899x/399/1/012006
  13. Černevičiūtė, J., Strazdas, R., Kregždaitė, R., et al. (2019). Cultural and creative industries for sustainable postindustrial regional development: The case of Lithuania. Journal of International Studies, 12(2), 285–298. https://doi.org/10.14254/2071-8330.2019/12-2/18
  14. Chou, Y. C., Uwano, T., Chen, B. W., et al. (2024). Assessing disability rights in four Asian countries: The perspectives of disabled people on physical, attitudinal and cultural barriers. Political Geography, 108, 103027. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polgeo.2023.103027
  15. Chu, Z., Liu, C., Li, G., Guan, K. (2018). Sustainable Development of the Economic Circle around Beijing: A View of Regional Economic Disparity. Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 10(10), 3691-3691. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10103691
  16. Coronado, F. (2019). The concentration of people and investments in the capital of a country of Latin America. World Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, 15(3), 279–291. https://doi.org/10.1108/wjemsd-08-2018-0074
  17. Farida, F. (2021). Indonesia’s capital city relocation: A perspective of regional planning. Jurnal Perspektif Pembiayaan Dan Pembangunan Daerah, 9(3), 221–234. https://doi.org/10.22437/ppd.v9i3.12013
  18. Fatehi, K., & Derakhshan, F. (1997). The Influence of Grassroots Political Turmoil on Capital Flight from Developing Countries. Taylor & Francis, 3(1), 39-49. https://doi.org/10.1300/J130v03n01_04
  19. Gao, Z., Tan, N., Geddes, R. R., & Ma, T. (2019). Population Distribution Characteristics and Spatial Planning Response Analysis in Metropolises, 7(1), 134-154. https://doi.org/10.14246/irspsd.7.1_134
  20. Ghalib, H., El-Khorazaty, M. T., & Serag, Y. (2021). New capital cities as tools of development and nation-building: Review of Astana and Egypt’s new administrative capital city. Ain Shams Engineering Journal, 12(3), 3405–3409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2020.11.014
  21. Guo, H. L. (2012). Designing Measures for the Sustainable Development of the Ecological City. Advanced Materials Research, 598, 184–188. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.598.184
  22. Hackbarth, T. X., & de Vries, W. T. (2021). An Evaluation of Massive Land Interventions for the Relocation of Capital Cities. Urban Science, 5(1), 25. https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci5010025
  23. Hadi, F., & Ristawati, R. (2020). Moving the Indonesian Capital and Presidential Powers in Constitutional Perspective (Indonesian). Jurnal Konstitusi, 17(3), 530–557. https://doi.org/10.31078/jk1734
  24. Hung, N. M. (2020). Transformation of built cultural heritage in old Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 949(1), 012052. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899x/949/1/012052
  25. Ishenda, D. K., & Guoqing, S. (2019). Determinants in Relocation of Capital Cities. Journal of Public Administration and Governance, 9(4), 200. https://doi.org/10.5296/jpag.v9i4.15983
  26. Junaidi, M., Iqbal, M., Sukarna, K., et al. (2020). Policy of Nation’s Capital Transfer in the Perspective of Power Separation. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Law, Economics and Health (ICLEH 2020); 2020. https://doi.org/10.2991/aebmr.k.200513.028
  27. Kamal, M. (2022). Prospects for the New Capital City Policy in Law and Economic Perspectives. Substantive Justice International Journal of Law, 5(1), 86. https://doi.org/10.56087/substantivejustice.v5i1.205
  28. Kapiarsa, A. B., Kurniawan, F., Ali, Y., et al. (2020). The Safe Indonesian Capital from The Defense Geography Perspective (Study Case: Kutai Kartanegara & Penajam Paser Utara Regency, East Borneo Province). IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 409(1), 012052. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/409/1/012052
  29. Lee, M., Choi, N., & Park, M. (2005). A systems thinking approach to the new administrative capital in Korea: balanced development or not?. Wiley, 21(1), 69-85. https://doi.org/10.1002/sdr.304
  30. LI, E. (2016). A Comparative Study of the Costs of Fixed Input in the Urbanization of Chinese Cities at Prefecture Level and Above. Chinese Journal of Urban and Environmental Studies, 04(03), 1650020. https://doi.org/10.1142/s2345748116500202
  31. Li, T., Liu, Y., Chaoran, W., et al. (2019). Decentralization of the non-capital functions of Beijing: Industrial relocation and its environmental effects. Elsevier BV, 224, 545-556. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.03.24
  32. Logan, W. (2005). The Cultural Role of Capital Cities: Hanoi and Hue, Vietnam. Pacific Affairs, 78(4), 559–575. https://doi.org/10.5509/2005784559
  33. Ma, T., Cao, X., & Zhao, H. (2022). Development zone policy and high-quality economic growth: quasi-natural experimental evidence from China. Regional Studies, 57(3), 590–605. https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2022.2093342
  34. Mao, J. (2014). Strategic Choice on Transformation Mode of China’s Resource-based Cities. International Journal of Financial Research, 5(3). https://doi.org/10.5430/ijfr.v5n3p116
  35. Mkrtchyan, N. (2017). Nation-building projects through new capitals: from St. Petersburg to Yerevan and Astana. Nationalities Papers, 45(3), 485–498. https://doi.org/10.1080/00905992.2016.1260535
  36. Nalau, J., & Handmer, J. (2018). Improving Development Outcomes and Reducing Disaster Risk through Planned Community Relocation. Sustainability, 10(10), 3545. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10103545
  37. Ning, B. B., & Tian, W. L. (2012). A Study on Problems and Countermeasures in Old City Reconstruction in China. Applied Mechanics and Materials, 253–255, 162–165. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.253-255.162
  38. Patel, R. B., & Burkle, F. M. (2012). Rapid Urbanization and the Growing Threat of Violence and Conflict: A 21st Century Crisis. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine, 27(2), 194–197. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1049023x12000568
  39. Potter, A. (2017). Locating the government: Capital cities and civil conflict. Research & Politics, 4(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/2053168017734077
  40. Pribadi, D. S., & Utomo, S. (2021). The Impact of the Relocation of the National Capital on Economic Recovery in the Perspective of Business Competition (Indonesian). Jurnal Persaingan Usaha, 2, 27–42. https://doi.org/10.55869/kppu.v2i.28
  41. Quistorff, B. (2015). Capitalitis? Effects of the 1960 Brazilian Capital Relocation. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2588620
  42. Rachmawati, R., Haryono, E., Ghiffari, R. A., et al. (2021). Best Practices of Capital City Relocation in Various Countries: Literature Review. E3S Web of Conferences, 325, 07004. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202132507004
  43. Ribeiro, L. C. D. Q., & Lago, L. C. D. (1995). Restructuring in Large Brazilian Cities: The Centre/Periphery Model*. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 19(3), 369–382. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2427.1995.tb00514.x
  44. Rohrs, R. C. (2000). Sectionalism, Political Parties, and the Attempt to Relocate the National Capital in 1814. The Historian, 62(3), 535–555. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6563.2000.tb01996.x
  45. Rossman, V. (2018). Capital Cities: Varieties and Patterns of Development and Relocation. Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315735061
  46. Syafitri, E. D., Dewanti, A. N., & Ulimaz, M. (2021). Analysis of the level of community readiness in Kecamatan Penajam as a buffer area for the plan to move the Capital City of Nega. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 778(1), 012002. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/778/1/012002
  47. Taghvaei, M., Rahmani, N., & Akrami, M. (2016). An Analysis on Locating and Finding the Most Appropriate Option in Order to Shifting Capital in Iran. Modern Applied Science, 10(8), 18. https://doi.org/10.5539/mas.v10n8p18
  48. Taki, H. M., & Sunandar, E. (2021). Physical geography in planning an Indonesia’s new capital towards integrated tropical city. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 737(1), 012007. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/737/1/012007
  49. Takyi, S. A. (2016). Comparative study of capital city elements: the case of Ghana and Nigeria. African Geographical Review, 35(2), 168–191. https://doi.org/10.1080/19376812.2015.1134335
  50. Trondal, J., & Kiland, C. (2010). Bureaucracy and Geography: Geographic Relocation of the Norwegian Central Administration. World Political Science, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.2202/1935-6226.1082
  51. Varis, O. (2006). Megacities, Development and Water. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 22(2), 199–225. https://doi.org/10.1080/07900620600648399
  52. Wang, Z., & Gao, X. (2018). Considerations on Rural Energy and New Countryside Construction in Beijing Deputy Center Area. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 146, 012010. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/146/1/012010
  53. Yeung, J. F. Y., Chan, A. P. C., & Lam, P. T. I. (2013). Evaluating national culture from eastern and western perspectives in the context of construction. International Journal of Project Organisation and Management, 5(4), 355. https://doi.org/10.1504/ijpom.2013.058383
  54. Zhang, H. (2018). Study on the Ecological Security Pattern of Zhaoqing City’s Eastward Expansion. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 189, 052076. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/189/5/052076
  55. Zhang, J., & Lu, H. (2010). Study on Location Model of Regional Logistics Center Based on Accessibility. Logistics For Sustained Economic Development: Infrastructure, Information, Integration. https://doi.org/10.1061/41139(387)231
  56. Хуснутдинова, С. Р., Sadretdinov, D. F., & Хуснутдинов, Р. Р. (2020). Tourism as a Factor of City Development in the Post-Industrial Economy. Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/aebmr.k.200324.163
  57. Чуркина, Н. И., & Zaverskiy, S. (2017). Challenges of Strong Concentration in Urbanization: The Case of Moscow in Russia. Elsevier BV, 198, 398-410. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2017.07.095


DOI: https://doi.org/10.24294/jipd10920

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2025 Isradi Zainal, Rendi Susiswo Ismail, Kiftian Hady Prasetya, Andi Surayya Mappangile, Aziz Thaba, Abdul Karim Mahmut, Amrul, Cici Mahmut

License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.