SMART GOVERNANCE POLICY FOR REALIZING A SMART CITY IN THE SPECIAL CAPITAL REGION OF JAKARTA

Abstract

The objectives of this study are to: (1) identify the forms, patterns, and mechanisms of public participation in Smart Governance policies; (2) analyze the factors supporting and hindering the effectiveness of public participation; and (3) formulate an effective model of public participation within the Smart Governance framework in the Special Capital Region of Jakarta. This study employs a pragmatic paradigm, utilizing a qualitative approach and a case study design. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with key informants from various stakeholder groups; observations of digital public service usage—specifically the JAKI application; and a review of relevant policies, regulations, and official reports. Data analysis was conducted using an analytical coding approach, involving iterative stages of data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing and verification. The findings reveal that public participation in Jakarta’s Smart Governance policy is diverse, stratified, and heterogeneous. This participation forms a spectrum of roles, ranging from operational roles as digital public service users and procedural participatory roles—involving the expression of aspirations through formal mechanisms—to collective-advocacy roles through community engagement and representative mechanisms. The effectiveness of participation is influenced by the interplay between public capacity, Smart Governance policy mechanisms, and institutional factors. The study formulates a model of effective public participation that positions public capacity as an input, digital governance mechanisms as a mediator, and institutional factors as a moderator, ultimately leading to enhanced service responsiveness, strengthened accountability, and increased public trust. The study’s novelty lies in the formulation of this spectrum of public roles and the participation model, both of which were inductively constructed from empirical findings across various informants.