A Field Survey of Riverbank Settlers' Acceptance of Displacement Policy in Jakarta

Exploring the Role of Judgments of Fairness

Abstract

Displacement policies are not always welcomed by residents, even though they are usually implemented to improve their living conditions. Focusing on procedural fairness and place attachment (project- and place-related factors, respectively), this study explores residents' concern underlying their opposition to a displacement policy. A field survey of 250 riverbank settlers in Jakarta, Indonesia was conducted. Residents' perceptions of procedural fairness significantly affected their degree of acceptance of displacement. Also, perceived procedural fairness predicted residents' participation in a class action lawsuit against the government's displacement proposal. This study showed that the degree of control that residents felt they had while the displacement policy was being designed, and their trust in the sincerity of the government, predicted the perceived procedural fairness.