This study aims to analyze the relationship of religion in influencing the transformation of public spaces that accompany changes in the social structure of its society. Similar studies on public space transformation mostly explain that economic values and government policies are the factors driving such transformation. However, this view only represents dominant values, thus paying less attention to other forms of values that are also major factors in public space transformation. One factor that influences the transformation of the social composition of society in public spaces is religious values. To explore this dynamic, this study focuses on the city of Surakarta, Indonesia, using a qualitative approach based on national and regional official data. This study has key findings indicating that religion, particularly Islam, plays a significant role in influencing social space and the structure of society. Islamic values dominate government policies, especially in the areas of spatial planning, economy, and symbolic social aspects in Surakarta, thereby creating a set of values that becomes the standard for the community. As a result, people who oppose Sharia principles (Islamic values) are marginalized from public spaces or even forced to leave the area. Therefore, to prevent discrimination, a more inclusive approach is needed in developing policies to continuously ensure that minority groups are not excluded from public spaces.
Ramdhani et al. (Tue,) studied this question.