Rukun and Gotong Royong: Managing Public Places in an Indonesian Kampung

Abstract

It has been argued that a livable and sustainable city can only be achieved if the community is directly involved and participates in the creation and management of the city's cnvironment. It is unfortunate, however, that often little information is available on a community's potential and problems in this area. This chapter will describe the way in which an lndonesian kampung, i.e., an urban village (or "squatter settlement" to some biased eyes), wilh limited support from external sources - the state. the private sectors, and the professionals - has successfully managed public places to create a livable und vibrnnt environment. Based on the traditional Javanese ideas of rukun (social harmony, communality) and gotong royong (sharing burdens, mutual cooperation), the kampung, supported by a strong community organization, has been able to create public places with limited environmental and economic resources. External support and efforts toward strengthening the community. however. are needed to face the rapid and unprecedented urbanization, modernisation. and globalisation that are putting more pressure on the kampung.