In/Outside
Posted by Stephanie on December 15, 2014Perhaps the most unresolved topic we’ve debated over in class this semester is the question of design imperialism vs. humanitarian design. Bruce Nussbaum’s article, “Is Humanitarian Design the New Imperialism”, sparked a lively debate, to be followed with countless follow up articles, comments, and rebuttals. I began to apply this question to myself, having spent my childhood years in Jakarta, and my more formative years in the US. I’ve always aspired to take what I learn, and apply it in Jakarta as a way of giving back. Thinking through this topic, I find myself as both an outsider, and an insider, complicating the questions even further. I decided to conduct a questionnaire with fellow Indonesian designers, and see how their answers compare to mine.
Participant number 1 is Rey. An architect in his 30’s educated in the US, now working as a director of interior design in Jakarta
Participant number 2 is Dora. A fashion designer in her mid 20’s working in Jakarta.
Participant number 3 is myself. A mid 20’s designer interested in systems who was transplanted to the US at 9 years old.
Below are the questions, followed by the participants answers.
What do you feel are 3 very big issues concerning Jakarta right now?
(1)
Traffic jam
Flooding
Weak law enforcement
(2)
Pollution
corruption
lack of education
(3)
climate change
trash
mobility
Do you feel that there is enough local effort working on those key issues?
(1)
Yes on traffic and flooding. Haven’t seen much changes on law enforcement, close to no changes at all.
(2)
With the change of the president i think it’s getting better. It will however take some time to see the result.
(3)
Im not sure, but I’ve noticed that things are improving every time I come home.
If yes, do you think that they are heading in the right direction?
(1)
Traffic: No they are not solving the traffic problems in the best possible way
Flooding: Yes they are making a great effort to minimize flooding
(2)
Yea i think they are. The more educated generation, like my peers, are growing up and i feel like they’re more active in (as cliche as it sounds) making Indonesia a better country.
(3)
I don’t know. I’m not sure if the solutions proposed are addressing problems at a systemic level.
If not, why do you think that is?
(1)
No improvements on law enforcement: I think it’s because the complicated bureaucracy of the state government, our Governor is having a tough time executing his plans because many local mafias (preman) that are making money from extortion is fighting back real hard.
(2)
N/A
(3)
I dont think environmental issues are being addressed systemically. They are working for solutions on flooding, but not the environment. In fact, I never hear about environmental issues at all when I am in Jakarta. Which is interesting, and terrifying, because geographically, Indonesia is one of the most vulnerable countries. Mobility is tied to very strong cultural mindsets on status, and public transportation is stigmatized. To my knowledge, city infrastructure is poor, so this issue will be a very tough one to address.
Do you feel that there is a unique way of thinking or acting that is solely “Indonesian”?
(1)
Yes there is, rather negatively if we view it from an American way of thinking. Indonesian: avoid confrontation and solve problems later. Very bad for problem solving!
(2)
Our tolerance level is so high. And we think a lot about other people’s thoughts.. Including other people’s happiness (hence the colonization for 350 years)
(3)
Yes. They always try to satisfy others, to a point that it can be debilitating and unproductive. But on the other hand, it results in a very tight knit social fabric.
Do you believe that an outsider (let’s say American to keep this simple) can come in, and design solutions to those top 3 issues effectively? In a way that will be adopted by locals?
(1)
Yes it’s possible, but it will take a long time. I don’t think Indonesia is quite ready because of the low education level that most people have here. They have no awareness of making the city better at the moment. Has to be a joint effort with the current government.
(2)
Yes
(3)
I don’t think so, I’m very conflicted about this.
How do you feel about outsiders coming in to make a profit in Jakarta?
(1)
Nothing wrong with that, but I don’t think it’s possible because of local laws. Outsiders need to work with a local representation in order to make profit and pay taxes.
(2)
Depends where the profit goes.
(3)
I don’t like it. Every time I go home, I see Jakarta moving away from local to global with new businesses. Maybe I have a nostalgic view of Jakarta, and I want things to be as i remember it. But I’m an outsider too, so this is very confusing for me.
Do you think it’s ethical? Does it hurt locals? Or helps them by bringing in new business and industries?
(1)
Definitely helps them.
(2)
Ethical really depends on where the profit goes. How happy they are while doing it etc. it’s always good to give people jobs.
(3)
I think it builds on the attitude that foreigners do it better.
If you had the choice, would you have someone come in and fix something, or teach you how to fix something?
(1)
Teach how to fix something, Indonesians have to learn how to maintain!
(2)
Yess definitely. The blind leading the blind wont really solve problem.. It might but it will defo. Takes more time for trials and errors
(3)
Teach me how to fix it.
Do you feel that outsiders are more respected in Indonesia? How do you feel about that?
(1)
Yes I think outsiders gets too much respect in Indonesia. I don’t know if it’s real respect, but definitely got a lot of attention probably because many locals think that outsiders bring money. Normal in any third world country.
(2)
Yes and i feel lame about it. The colonization mentality is still so very vibrant here, foreigners=higher. But im optimistic though, Indonesia is getting better overcoming this.
(3)
Absolutely. I hate it. Being halfway an insider and outsider, it makes me very uncomfortable.
How do you feel towards an”American standard of living”? Do you think, generally, people are happier in America?
(1)
Not necessarily happier in America. I think happiness is a relative thing, you can be happy not owning a Ferrari, a fisherman can also be happy, while a millionaire might not be happy. I think it’s nice to have western standard of living, a luxury many do not have here.
(2)
Convenient maybe, happier not definitely.
(3)
Maybe not happier, and under the right circumstances, life in Indonesia can be more convenient. I think Americans tend to question, and it frustrates me that the culture in Indonesia is more accepting of everything without questioning.
What do you feel Indonesians can teach Americans?
(1)
Definitely can teach Americans ‘not to complain so much about what they don’t have’. Freedom is priceless and it only happens in America. Americans have it easier than everyone now, but then again as an American I know that Americans have earned that right because Americans are hardworking and have fight for their values of freedom a long time ago.
(2)
Well. Im not sure really. I was gonna say arrogance. But i feel like it makes a country ‘better’ in some ways. I mean too much tolerance wouldn’t really help this country go somewhere.
(3)
Patience. Indonesians are so patient, maybe sometimes too patient.
(end of questionnaire)
Ultimately, I was surprised that I was the only participant that answered “no” to whether or not an outsider can come in to help design lasting solutions. But I was not surprised that everyone answered “yes” to learning how to do something rather than having the problem addressed for them. I’m conflicted at the fact that Indonesians, and perhaps this applies in many third world countries, tend to see foreigners as “more capable”. And perhaps in many ways, we are. At least in terms of having the privileged access to rigorous education. But this sets up a hierarchical view rather than that of collaboration.
After going back and forth on this topic numerous times, and I’m sure I will continue to change my mind on this topic again, for now I’ve arrived at the following conclusion: We are all outsiders, to a certain degree. Unless you are designing something strictly for yourself, you are designing something for someone else, from the outside. It’s a matter of degrees of separation. And with that in mind, we can instead innovate on the ways in which we become closer to being “on the inside”, rather than watch idly from the sidelines. *Exhale* Debate settled (for now).