Politik Perbatasan di Papua dalam Optimalisasi Ruang Kota dan Potensi Geografis dan Ekonomi

Abstract

The Papua border region possesses significant geographical and economic potential; however, it has not been systematically optimized due to the absence of planning instruments based on the spatial-economic characteristics of the area. This study examines border politics in urban spatial designation as a policy instrument to optimize such potential by taking the Papua–Papua New Guinea border corridor as a case study. The study employs a literature review approach by integrating quantitative spatial analysis data and documents with various policy studies. The findings identify that only 38% of Papua's border regencies have a Detailed Spatial Plan (Rencana Detail Tata Ruang/RDTR), while productive land utilization has reached only 18% of its optimal capacity. The results indicate that an urban designation model oriented toward the border economy and integrating the local wisdom of indigenous communities is capable of increasing the projected Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) by up to 31% over a ten-year period, compared to 12% under the conventional approach. The novelty of this study lies in the development of a Border-Oriented City Designation (BOCD) framework that integratively bridges the geopolitical, ecological, and economic dimensions of border regions. The policy implications point toward revising Regional Spatial Plans (RTRW) based on border corridors, strengthening Integrated Border Posts (Pos Lintas Batas Negara/PLBN) as growth nodes, and formalizing indigenous institutions within the spatial planning system. This study contributes to filling the gap in the literature on urban planning in Indonesia's ultraperipheral regions.