In-Person Panel PS3.4

Resilience and Transformation: Perspectives on Societal Dynamics in Indonesia, Japan and Taiwan

Indonesia during the Pandemic: Shifting Investment Flows in Reshaping Indonesia's Cities 

Uly Faoziyah 

The investment flows have been acknowledged as a significant driver of urban transformation in a hyper globalized environment. However, the Covid-19 Pandemic is expected to transform this issue. The city, which was initially a center for capital accumulation, becomes the entrance of the virus and facilitates its spread to other regions. The dark side of the Pandemic that restricts the movement of people and goods provides an important crisis point in determining the investment direction in the future. Indonesia was chosen by considering its representation as a developing country as well as its strategic position at the global level and one of the main epicenters of Covid-19 in Asia. The quantitative method will describe changes in volume, main types of industries, as well as spatial patterns in cities in Indonesia. This research will contribute theoretically to the perspective of urban functioning and spatial change in cities in developing countries.

Reconstruction and Creativity: The Ishinomaki Experience 

Heide Imai

Japan's history is marked by a series of disasters, each prompting unique approaches to recovery and resilience. This paper emphasizes the importance of studying these responses focusing on regions outside major cities that were already facing socioeconomic challenges and are in need for a more resilient future. Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, is a prime case study, having undergone extensive reconstruction since the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE). Notably, Ishinomaki's recovery has been characterized by innovative, grassroots initiatives initiated by volunteers and migrants, sparking creativity in community revitalization. This paper examines the pivotal role of creativity in Ishinomaki's revitalization, recovery, and community resilience over the past decade. Employing an ethnographic approach with semi-structured interviews, it showcases personal narratives from a diverse range of residents and social networks committed to rebuilding often-overlooked soft infrastructure. Beyond reflecting on past lessons, the paper offers insights for the future, shedding light on how rural Japan adapts to a new normal in times of crisis. It underscores the enduring significance of grassroots creativity in fostering resilience and community well-being.

Feminization of Migration: Filipino Care and Domestic Workers in Taiwan 

Anna Joceline Ituriaga 

This paper explores the feminization of migration in Taiwan through ethnographic research, including in-depth interviews and immersion into the lives of Filipino care and domestic workers. 

Drawing from qualitative data, including interviews and participant observation, this research explores the intricate interplay of gender, migration, and labor among Filipino care and domestic workers in Taiwan. By emphasizing their narratives and experiences, this paper humanizes migration statistics and policies, providing a unique perspective on their agency and resilience. Preliminary insights reveal challenges and opportunities, including labor rights, social integration, and workplace gender dynamics, highlighting the workers' resourcefulness and resilience. 

Additionally, this paper situates these evolving findings within broader Asian Studies discussions, highlighting the call for inclusive, intersectional approaches. It showcases how studying feminized migration enriches our understanding of the "Asian Century," where gender, migration, and labor take central roles. 

As findings continue to develop, it strives to deepen our comprehension of feminized migration's intricacies in Taiwan and its implications regionally and globally. This underscores the importance of recognizing the resilience and agency of Filipino care and domestic workers amidst multifaceted challenges in the context of Asia's feminization of migration.

Engaging Sacred Wisdom in Public Administration: Everyday Practices in Tribal Governance in Indonesia

Budi Waluyo

Baduy is a closed ethnic group native to the Southeastern part of Banten, Indonesia, approximately 170 kilometers (just over 105 miles) from Jakarta. They adhere to a traditional lifestyle rooted in ancestral beliefs and deliberately reject modernism. The Baduy people refrain from using electricity or machines, and their children are not allowed to attend school. The region covers 5,136 hectares (19.83 square miles) and has a population exceeding 16,000. Their practice of tribal governance in the context of public administration is the focus of this chapter. Ethnographic fieldwork, specifically participant observation, was carried out in the Baduy community. The study illustrates how sacred wisdom is engaged in structuring the contours of governance in the isolated community. This chapter highlights the notion that sacred wisdom constitutes tribal governance by shaping activity patterns and relations, in addition to contributing to the production and reproduction of tribal governance. Meanwhile, tribal governance emerges through and is constituted by the aggregation of interrelated sacred wisdom. It gives way to wisdom-led governance by providing more space for sacred initiatives performed by cultural leaders to conduct and conceive their everyday tasks with reference to sacred wisdom and use wisdom to shape and pursue their objectives.