Author Identifier

Nurul Ratna Sari: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8065-2230

Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Thesis

Publisher

Edith Cowan University

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

School

School of Arts and Humanities

First Supervisor

Panizza Allmark

Second Supervisor

Judith Elund

Abstract

Since 2017, Indonesia has implemented a movement towards 100 Smart Cities. This thesis examines community engagement in ICT (Information Communication Technology)- based risk communication in East Java, Indonesia, focusing on the concept of the Smart City. This study investigates two Indonesian Smart Cities—Surabaya Smart City and Banyuwangi Smart Kampung, which both embody unique Smart City concepts and diverse sociocultural landscapes. The study focuses on four community types: the urban kampung, and the urban elite in Surabaya, and the traditional kampung, and the cultured elite in Banyuwangi. The Indonesian context presents various sociocultural characteristics that shape distinct community risk perceptions, knowledge, and participation.

The research applies critical Public Relations (PR) to critique the Excellence Theory of PR, focusing on sociocultural considerations and the significance of the involvement of community voices in an organisation’s decision-making process. The Command Center is an ICT-integrated public service platform to respond to public matters, including risk and emergency. This research examines the ICT characteristics of the Command Center and raises questions about whether the Smart City boosts community empowerment and whether the community engages with the Command Center.

The research engages a pragmatic paradigm using mixed methods. This comprised of focus groups with the community representatives, interviews with the government representatives and experts, and surveys of the community. The findings highlight distinct narratives of the Command Center, representing the communities’ sociocultural and risk capacity profiles and the government’s risk communication approach. The study proposes an integrative sociocultural model of risk communication engagement, that considers specific sociocultural contexts of Indonesia. Furthermore, the research contributes to national and global objectives by spotlighting the significance of local communities, contexts, and roles. These elements are integral to enriching the discourse on public safety at both the national and global levels, ultimately aiding in realising sustainable cities and communities.

DOI

10.25958/4xcc-5v71

Access Note

Access to this thesis is embargoed until 7th August 2030

Access to chapters 2, 6, 7 and 8 of this thesis are not available

Some images are not available in this version of the thesis due to copyright considerations

Available for download on Wednesday, August 07, 2030

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