Sistering City’s Towards Sustainable Cities Goals: Concerning Area Studies
The last three years we have informed how globalization works not only in the country level but also in city level. For Indonesia, the period has already began when The City Mayors Foundation awarded to Ir. Joko Widodo as one of the best Mayor because of his concept to be populist person and his blusukan activity. In my opinion, it is something that does not exist in the countries of western aristocrat. The pattern of global relations through competition with complex’s standard indicators, has established a new relationship or refurbished cooperation within "sister city" form .
Sister City interpreted as a twin city concept, was initiated since Essenhower era as President of the United States in the '50s. The idea was to connect interesting similarity of the cities in the European world which have in common in parts of the world the United States or Canada. The equity between two cities is not only exist as well as a geographic conditions, but more related to social, cultural and political aspects such as migration flows, and involve a number of displacement (ideas, goods and people) .
Concerning the history of how the city deals with other cities in other parts of the world, the evidence has shown the relation formed by trade and colonialism. Today, the new forms of relationships involve the role of science and technology to get the Sustainable Cities achievement. Relations based on bussiness with the hope of symbiotic mutualism had been corridor exchange of people, goods and ideas in a global idea of sustainable cities.
Sustainable Cities as derivative of the concept of sustainable development has integrate the economic, environmental and social dimensions which redefined in terms of profit, people and planet. These dimensions then translated to the the complex indicators and limited interpretation at the policy level. In reality, the Indonesian diaspora who have settled in countries far away and even become expert in the Netherlands became a main actor who take part in a sister city for sustainable city.
One of sister city example like Rotterdam and Jakarta, already began the history from Rotterdam Lloyd corporation who has a big role to build the port of Jakarta. Their development activities was not only for physical, but also mechanized the social area with the settlement project to avoid problems. Currently, one of the movement of other ideas like the idea to build waterplaza in national monuments area, in his hometown Rotterdam was not simplified accepted by the public as importance infrastructure for several years. Through the process of participatory policy decision-making then this infrastructure project was built. Although the idea is announced as one of the prevention of floods which also have the ability to multitask as a public space when it is dry and playroom when winter swimming even when the monsoon arrives .
In line with today political context of the elections in Jakarta seems that these infrastructure development which came originally from Rotterdam such as water plazas and reclamation project within the revitalization city’s project has become invited a number of contradiction. In addition, the reason is vary from funding reasons, legal reasons and regulations into a "wedge" the implementation of these development projects. My opinion is that the idea of sister city Jakarta- Rotterdam which is interpreted as simbyosis relationship of mutuality which up to this time a new move in the level of government seems not understood well and tend to ignore a number of signs. The exchange of expertise between Jakarta and Rotterdam did not ensure the sustainability of the global project run smoothly .
Another view of the sister city that exists between the city of Bandung with a number of European cities. Referring to the needs of the city and its citizens, public space worked because of the role of diaspora group. I think the key of this city’s project is how the idea of sister city is translated as people to people contact. Wastewater treatment project with Braunschweig, Germany is not only the government involvement but also other element of society like Bandung Deutchs Club, known as the lover of Germany. The field of education has also contributed to the alumny of TU Braunschweig who then worked at PT. DI or lecturer at the University of Padjadjaran Bandung and might be the proximity of the cities Bandung and Germany as a technician producer.
The aim of this opinion is to give consideration to some offers Memorandum of Understanding Sister City since decentralization of power and self funding project via LPDP program. The relationship between the cities is part of the city needs improving the quality of city’s life has impact on society directly. Thats why we should support and understand the context and background of the city in another country as a form of area studies. The importance of global power relations is not only symetric connection of a powerful country with a developing country, but also even occur in cities that are not popular (Surabaya and Varna) with the interests of regional development. Importance of attention for area studies needed considering how rapidly the idea of sister city to get closer Copenhagen and Purwekerto, West Sulawesi with Kocaeili. My concern, that the context of the program, policies and infrastructure in the origin city should be understood to contribute domino effect positively or negatively) and tends to create new problems in the destination city.
By Ayu Nova Lissandhi, P2SDR resecher
