Jakarta’s City Branding as Para-Diplomacy: Beyond Greening Stadium and Race

Abstract

Mega-structures and mega-sports events have been attractions in many mega-cities representing their identity to the rest of the world. Such phenomenon has also taken place in Jakarta by the existence of the Jakarta International Stadium and the Formula E and both have gained attention and stimulated conversations in Indonesia. So have both been known as a green stadium and a green race. Integrating sustainability to urban development has been a global trend and Jakarta attempts to take advantage of such trend to create branding. This research aimed to describe the rationale of greening the stadium and race by the Jakarta regional government within its city branding policy under the leadership of Governor Anies Rasyid Baswedan. This research employed the qualitative method and descriptive analysis in addition to the concept of para-diplomacy and city branding. This research found that both green stadium and race were utilized as symbols or promotional value to promote green development in the city. City branding by the Jakarta regional government was a diplomatic practice bringing a message about the city transformation to be a green and global city. This paper provides a perspective that city branding is para-diplomacy itself or one of para-diplomacy practices. This paper argues that through city branding, cities should be able to not only widen their specific needs locally but also pave their global role in addressing the global challenges like climate crisis.

Jakarta Sebagai Aktor Paradiplomasi Hijau Pada Masa Pemerintahan Anies Baswedan

“…Sementara itu, kota Jakarta sebagai ibukota negara juga berupaya mengatasi dampak perubahan iklim dengan melakukan paradiplomasi melalui berbagai jaringan kota serta membentuk city branding dengan membangun Jakarta International Stadium (JIS) dan menyelenggarakan mega-event olahraga seperti Formula E. Adapun selain memiliki manfaat sebagai sarana pelaksanaan acara olahraga internasional, penyelenggaraan Formula E dan Pembangunan JIS juga memiliki agenda lainnya, yaitu untuk melambangkan transformasi hijau perkotaan sebagai pembangunan lokal [25], [26]. Beberapa penelitian yang telah ditinjau dalam studi ini telah menyampaikan secara komprehensif mengenai praktik paradiplomasi Indonesia dalam bidang lingkungan.…”

City in Global Conversations: A Constructivist Study of Jakarta’s Para-Diplomacy and Regional Leader’s International Visibility

“…Another achievement that could bolden the effort for the status of a global city was its participation in global forums addressing both urban and global issues. It could be one of a few cities in the Global South that paid attention to the role of cities on the global stage (Luerdi, 2023b). Further, the tagline "Jakarta Global City" and "Jakarta Kota Global" were intensely spread by regional government officials through digital platforms (Luerdi, 2023b).…”

“…It could be one of a few cities in the Global South that paid attention to the role of cities on the global stage (Luerdi, 2023b). Further, the tagline "Jakarta Global City" and "Jakarta Kota Global" were intensely spread by regional government officials through digital platforms (Luerdi, 2023b).…”

“…Not only does a global city mean that it becomes one of the centers for global economy and investment, but it also hosts the meetings of cultures and plays its political role in responding to the current issues challenging cities and nations (Luerdi, 2023b). The latter can refer to active internationalism which can be defined -in the case of the city -as active engagement of the city to pursue specific interests and respond to global issues often collaboratively with other world cities.…”

Assessing community spirit: The psychosocial impact of major sporting events - A case study of the Jakarta e-Prix

“…The city of Jakarta is hosting the Formula E event (Jakarta ePrix) to showcase its dedication to sustainability within its urban development strategies [13]. The Governor of DKI Jakarta appointed PT.…”