HYDRO-SOCIAL SYSTEMS IN JAKARTA: A CRITIQUE OF FLOOD MANAGEMENT POLICY

Abstract

This study aims to illuminate the processes that shape flood management policy in Jakarta, Indonesia by using a mixed methods approach inspired by both physical and human geography to analyze the complex interactions of a socio-natural system. Urban flooding is a growing problem for many large cities across the world, and especially in Southeast Asia. The main subject of interest is the system of water, cities, and people which produces flood management policy. The study draws on several lines of inquiry to understand hydro-social processes using the Ciliwung Normalization project as an entry point, including: current literature on hydrology and flood management, historical perspectives on the city’s flooding, cross-section measurements over time taken during fieldwork in the Ciliwung River, interviews with key stakeholders, policy documents, and official communications from relevant government organizations. The study explores the concept of maladaptation to understand Jakarta’s struggle to manage flooding.