Jakarta

Jakarta as the capital of Indonesia has exercised strong political power over the nation since the colonial era. The old and new order regimes have retained that position by introducing symbols to represent a dignified center. This political power has also strengthened its economic development. The recent political movement following the fall of Soeharto led to the strengthening of other cities, especially in Java. Decentralization processes have led to the formation of new symbols in other regional cities and these emerging urban centers have grown in important ways. This paper will discuss the dominance of Jakarta and its relations with other cities in Indonesia. It explores the development of Jakarta in relation to other big cities and the possibility that the decentralization would create regional cities as 'rivals’ of Jakarta. It concludes that although the other cities in Indonesia have increased their significance as regional centers through economic growth, they remain a shadow of Jakarta’s dominance patterns. Nevertheless, there is an opportunity for other cities to represent the alternative non‐political symbols in contrast to the Indonesian capital.