Assembling Nusantara - Mimicry, Friction, and Resonance in the New Capital Development

Today, the new Indonesian capital city, Nusantara, planning is being anticipated as 'representing national identity,' 'a model city,' or 'a gift to the world,' and many other extraordinary labels. This book examines the reality of an ongoing developmental transformation of the Nusantara beyond those labels. It approaches its assemblage of humans, their works (plans, documents, policies, and others), non-human objects (biodiversity, landscape, geography, physical infrastructure, buildings, and public spaces), processes, social relationships, social infrastructures, and others. It is organized into three themes-mimicry, friction, and resonance. The mimicry illustrates the similarities (and differences) between Nusantara and other capital cities in urban narratives, imageries, and forms. The friction studies how Nusantara moves actors who do not always agree, processes that do not always align or collaboration between diverse contradicting groups that intersect. The resonance observes how Nusantara resonates with, yet communicates its voice toward, the world. The three concepts (originated from geography, anthropology, and sociology) frame the analytics of the various contributions of local and foreign scientists from multiple disciplines. Overall, the book recommends 'Otorita Ibu Kota Nusantara' (Nusantara capital city authority) on the current experimentation and implementation of the urban vision and provides a reference for social scientists to study Nusantara. And more broadly, the book offers the current socio-spatial practices of capital city-making in Asia that are valuable for the region.



Dr. Henny Warsilah is Research Professor in Development Sociology (Urban-Rural) at the Center for Community and Cultural Research, National Research and Innovation Agency (PMB BRIN). Her study focuses on urban development, social transformation, resilient city, and social conflict and has published several articles in the International Journal (ELSEVIER-Progress in Disaster: Review and analysis of current responses to COVID-19 in Indonesia: Period of January to March 2020) and (Atlantis Press-Springer Nature 2019: Inclusive Urban Coastal Development in Ampenan and Jerowaru, West Nusa Tenggara) and Book Chapter (Springer Nature-Climate Change, Research, and Policy in Indonesia: 'Resilience of Coastal Cities in Facing Climate Change: Reclamation case of Beano Bay and North Jakarta Bay in Coastal Regions').


Dr. Lilis Mulyani is Researcher at the Indonesia's National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). She obtained her Ph.D. from the Melbourne Law School in 2021. Her research focuses mainly on land law and agrarian studies, human rights, group rights, and legal methodology. Her Ph.D. thesis was written on legal personality of groups and land rights. Her research derives from the current Indonesia land law that has created inequality between groups of people, with powerful legal persons such as the state and the corporations dominate the land use and land control and discriminates against other groups such as the traditional customary communities.