Fadjar Hari Mardiansjah: Sustainable urbanisation and urban development policies in Indonesia: a study of three rapidly urbanising kabupaten on the island of Java.

This thesis examines urbanisation processes in Indonesia’s non-urban districts (kabupaten) and the local government policies designed to address the demands of urbanisation in their regions whilst responding to the constraints of territorial urbanisation. The aim is to examine these Indonesian urban development policies in terms of their characteristics and strategies for addressing the problems caused by rapid territorial urbanisation, particularly in light of the prospects and imperatives of sustainable urban development, conceived as a new development ethic.

More broadly, with reference to the situation of the kabupaten in Indonesia, this thesis aims to contribute to an understanding of the mechanisms of urban development in small and medium-sized towns in developing countries.

The study comprises two main parts. The first concerns the process of urbanisation in the kabupaten, particularly on the island of Java, the most densely populated island in the archipelagic state, and the first to experience, from the 1980s onwards, this territorial dimension of urbanisation, which led to an increase in the urban population of the kabupaten. Secondly, this study seeks to understand the main issues arising in the urbanisation process of the kabupaten, particularly from the perspective of sustainable development.

Based on the comparative findings from the analysis of urban development institutions in the kabupaten, the aim was to examine local perceptions of urban development, the policies adopted to address the issues, and the shortcomings of urban development policies at the local level.

In doing so, the research examines the conditions necessary for potentially enhancing local capacities to manage their urbanisation and urban development processes, ensuring these are aligned with local realities and responsive to issues of sustainable development.

Members of the jury

• Charles Goldblum (ed.), Professor Emeritus, University of Paris 8
• Sabine Barles (ed.), Professor (HDR), University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne,
• Rodolphe de Koninck (rapporteur), Full Professor, CETASE, University of Montreal
• Manuelle Franck (rapporteur), university professor (HDR), President of INALCO
• Sylvy Jaglin (examiner), Professor, Université Paris-Est, Director of the ‘City, Transport and Territories’ Doctoral School