Unequal Exposure

The Politics of Tidal Flood Risk Inequality on Java's Northern Coast

Abstract

Indonesia's maritime potential significantly contributes to its economic growth, particularly in the coastal areas of the northern coast of Java, which serves as a major maritime trade route. This has led to increased industrial activity through the development of industrial infrastructure, property, and public facilities. As the backdrop, industrialization on the Northern Coast of Java has led to increased land subsidence, resulting in significant tidal floods that have become more severe over the past few years. This flooding has had a severe impact on the community, highlighting class-based risk inequality. Following Ulrich Beck's analytical framework, flooding on the northern coast of Java is a natural disaster caused by tides and the characteristics of alluvial soil, which places the habitats at risk. Moreover, the significance of tidal floods in recent years has been influenced by massive industrial activity, a manifestation of modernity, especially groundwater exploitation, which has accelerated land subsidence and become a daily concern for people living in the coastal areas of the northern coast of Java. The method used in this study is a literature review and secondary data analysis, incorporating data from previous research, articles, credible digital media sources, and relevant ministries. The research results indicate that tides are becoming increasingly intense, extending farther inland and affecting the ecological, economic, and social aspects of the community. Hence, the impacts of tidal floods are not evenly distributed, but rather accumulate among the directly affected communities, namely the lower classes, who bear the risks as government policy does not provide a solution.