Sharia housing, sustainable communities and civic pluralism in Surakarta

Abstract

Abstract The spread of sharia housing in Indonesia presents various problems, one of which is the problem of civic pluralism in big cities. It is undeniable that sharia housing, which requires its residents to be Muslims, encourages the formation of uniform religious-based communities that tend to foster group exclusivity. Pluralism and multicultural society, which become the Indonesian state’s identity, find their challenges in facing this homogeneity of identity. This paper analyzes the problem of space in the city of Surakarta, which is currently facing the phenomenon of homogeneity of new communities through sharia housing. The data are obtained through in-depth interviews and participatory observation to the developers and Sharia housing buyers in Surakarta. Using an analysis of sustainable communities, civic culture and civic pluralism, this paper finds that the politics of space in Surakarta that emerged from sharia housing development raises new problems, namely the integration of citizens into the local power structure. Sharia housing that develops homogeneity of religious-based communities is a threat to pluralism of space in Surakarta’s urban space in particular and Indonesia in general.