Governing Sister City: Global Collaboration and Local Operation

Abstract

This research aims to analyze the governance of a sister city from the perspective of local governments in Indonesia. It seeks to answer questions, such as why South Korea and Indonesia continue working together despite the cessation of activities during certain periods. It focuses on the dynamic of this cooperation management, the actors involved, and their roles. This research uses a qualitative method to collect data through interviews with informants from local governments and nongovernmental agencies, which serve as key supporting components. Results showed three types of outcome: dynamic, effective, and unimplemented cooperation. Three factors explain these outcomes: administrative support, local government capacity, and leadership. In addition, the nature of cooperation has evolved from being limited to government agencies to involving nongovernmental agencies, thereby strengthening the phenomenon of decentralized governance. These results are evidence of local government agencies' decentralized cooperation, which extends beyond national borders and involves nongovernmental agencies.