An Urban Explanation of Jokowi’s Rise: Implications for Politics and Governance in Post-Suharto Indonesia

Earlier explanations of Jokowi’s rise to presidency in 2014 have mostly focused on his distinct qualities or the types of political support he received from Indonesian society. However, such explanations, albeit informative, pay insufficient attention to a key factor in Jokowi’s rise: Indonesia’s urbanisation. In this article, I first propose an urban analytical framework comprising three factors: urban-led national economic growth, decentralisation, and Jakarta-centrism in Indonesian media and politics. Then, I examine whether this framework can be applied to Jokowi’s rise by drawing on existing scholarship and data. Finally, I argue that urbanisation has shaped several key constituencies and grievances in Indonesia, contributing significantly to Jokowi’s rise. My argument concerns the following two ideas: first, the urban has become a new pathway to power in Indonesia for local politicians such as Jokowi; second, urban-centrism in Indonesia has made urban areas, especially Jakarta, important stages for political performance.