Beyond Infrastructure: Land Conflict Resolution as a Core Strategy for Slum Upgrading in Jakarta

Gunanegara Gunanegara (Universitas Pelita Harapan)

Jurist-Diction
Vol. 9 No. 3 (2026): Volume 9 No. 3, September 2026

In many Global South megacities, slum-upgrading programs improve infrastructure but often leave tenure insecurity and land conflicts unresolved. This study proposes a law-based framework that places land-conflict resolution at the core of slum upgrading in Jakarta. Using a socio-legal method combining normative legal analysis, interviews, focus-group discussions, field observations, and comparative references. The study identifies four land-conflict typologies: occupation of private land, state-owned land, legally prohibited areas, and legally owned land with inadequate housing conditions. The findings show that each typology requires a distinct legal response, while uniform upgrading policies are ineffective. The absence of a clear legal framework weakens upgrading programs and perpetuates tenure insecurity. The study concludes that tenure security and land-conflict resolution must be integrated into slum-upgrading policy. It recommends differentiated, legally grounded mechanisms that classify conflicts, secure tenure, and combine legal settlement with physical improvement to achieve sustainable and just slum development.   ABSTRACT:
In many Global South megacities, slum-upgrading programs improve infrastructure but often fail to resolve tenure insecurity and land conflicts. This study proposes a legal framework that places land-conflict resolution at the center of slum-upgrading efforts in Jakarta. Using a socio-legal approach that combines normative legal analysis, interviews, focus group discussions, field observations, and comparative references, the study identifies four typologies of land conflict: occupation of private land, state-owned land, legally prohibited areas, and legally owned land with inadequate housing conditions. The findings indicate that each typology requires a distinct legal response, while uniform upgrading policies are largely ineffective. The absence of a clear legal framework undermines upgrading programs and perpetuates tenure insecurity. The study concludes that tenure security and land-conflict resolution must be integrated into slum-upgrading policies. It recommends differentiated and legally grounded mechanisms that classify conflicts, secure tenure rights, and integrate legal resolution with physical upgrading to promote sustainable and equitable slum development.