Alun-alun Yogyakarta: A Representative of Sustainable ‘Local South’ Public Space Which Is Influenced by Westernization

Abstract

When talking about Westernization in Global South Countries, one Venezuelan, Juan Pedro Posani on Zahn (2008) said that: ’Our city is growing in different society. We cannot imitate the West, because the third world is different. Western prescription is a spectacular prescribe that does not meet with our needs. Therefore, let us fix our mistakes in the way we are, including the consequences of colonization. In the future, who knows, it could happen that we can teach the Western’. It is a very inspiring statement for Global South Communities.It is certainly true that one of the effects of comparative studies between Western and Southern is generating a limited thinking on planning. Sometimes, we are thinking that imitating Western Style is the best choice to solve the problems in Global South, although sometimes it is not the most appropriate approach to solve them. On the other hand, not all the Westernization creates un-appropriate approach. The history of Java shows that Alun-alun Yogyakarta as a civic square in front of the Yogyakarta Hadiningrat Palace is a sustainable public space although since the first time of establishment on 1755, was really influenced by Western Colonization. But lots of activities, old and new, still survive in this place now. Maybe it is because of the tight traditional local wisdom of Javanese Palace.