The Neoliberalisation of Poverty Treatment Policies in Jakarta, from Inequality to Injustice

International audienceAs a metropolis participating in the emergence process of the economy of Indonesia, Jakarta is taking part in the double movement of competitiveness with the other major metropolises of the region, while seeking to officially maintain social justice for its population. Today, Jakarta has been adopting neoliberal capitalist norms, while refusing the disengagement from the State. To date, this policy has not led to a reduction in inequalities in the metropolis, and might even contribute to its fragmentation. These developments, which are touching upon the governance of the city, are testifying to new principles guiding a course of action, such as fighting poverty in particular. The new practices relying on the social layers of an already strong and old society, are developing an individualisation of the poverty phenomenon and its treatment, giving value to the monetisation of public services and social as well as NGO welfare. Beyond inequalities, injustice is taking place in this new capitalistic context, which is ensuring the reproduction of domination relationships and the conservative modernisation of society. As such, this article seeks to show the existing tensions between the competitiveness of territories contributing to the insertion of metropolises into the globalised economy, and the imbalances produced at the national and urban territory levels, such as exclusion phenomena and the weakening of social cohesion