Public Space and Protest in the Megacity: Urban Politics and Demonstrations in Jakarta

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between public space, urban politics, and protest in Jakarta, Indonesia’s megacity, where demonstrations have become central to political contestation and civic expression. As a densely populated and politically significant metropolis, Jakarta functions as both the symbolic heart of the nation and a strategic site for mobilizing mass movements. Public spaces such as the National Monument (Monas), Merdeka Square, and major thoroughfares serve as arenas where citizens negotiate political power, visibility, and legitimacy. This research investigates how urban infrastructure, spatial regulations, and state security practices shape protest dynamics, and how demonstrators strategically use the city’s public spaces to amplify their political messages. Employing a qualitative case study approach, the study analyzes protest events, spatial policies, media coverage, and interviews with activists, urban planners, and security officials to understand the interplay between space, power, and collective action. The findings reveal that Jakarta’s public spaces are contested terrains where protesters seek to disrupt everyday urban life to gain attention and leverage, while the state deploys regulatory measures, policing strategies, and spatial management to contain dissent. The study highlights how spatial control—through permits, road closures, and surveillance—affects the capacity of movements to mobilize and maintain visibility. The novelty of this research lies in its integration of urban politics and protest studies, emphasizing the role of space as a political actor in Indonesia’s megacity context. The contribution of the study is to deepen understanding of how urbanization and spatial governance influence democratic participation and public dissent. It concludes that democratic urban politics requires inclusive access to public space, transparent protest regulations, and participatory urban planning that accommodates civic expression while ensuring public order. The study recommends strengthening legal frameworks and dialogue mechanisms that protect the right to protest and support urban spaces as democratic commons.