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| Illustration: The demise of urban communities due to changes in urban residential spaces due to the capitalization of space. Photo: Ahmadin |
This article intends to describe how ethnic-based ecological demarcations once characterized the residential structure and unique ecological situation in Makassar. This means that the Dutch colonialists in this city increasingly perfected the form of ethnic segregation and brought fundamental changes to the face of the city due to the influence of their political domination. Even the architectural nuances of the building were deliberately set to resemble the conditions of Medieval cities in Europe by colonial-style technological engineering in the 17th century.
However, the dynamics of the city with all the changes it brings about, then changes the characteristics and even remodels the residential structure of the ethnically labeled population. Finally, artificial locality appears as an effect of commodifying space, in turn creating a type of society that is only physically close but psychologically distant. Thus, the symptom of weakening of social ties by urban space policies is a sign of the death of urban communities.
Specification:
- Author: Ahmadin
- Publication Type: National Scientific Journal
- Journal Name: Predestinasi
- Edition: Vol. 3 No. 2, 8 Mei 2018
- Page: 153-162
- ISSN: 1978-9351
Dicussion
This abstract critically examines the transformation of urban space in Makassar, focusing on how the Dutch colonizers did not merely inherit but rather reinforced existing ethnic segregation. The main argument highlights that colonial interventions, including 17th-century European-style architectural design, brought fundamental changes to the city’s landscape as a manifestation of political domination. The strength of the analysis lies in its explanation of how postcolonial urban dynamics did not erase old barriers but rather rebirthing them in a new form—artificial localities resulting from the commodification of space.
This phenomenon triggers a paradoxical condition: the physical proximity of city residents is not accompanied by psychological attachment, signaling the weakening of social bonds. This abstract successfully connects the legacy of colonial history with contemporary urban issues, although the term “the death of urban communities” seems overly deterministic. Overall, this abstract offers a sharp perspective on the politics of space and ethnic identity in urban settings
