ARI Working Paper Series

What are the possible humanistic approaches to urban flood disaster governance? Several largest cities in Southeast Asia, such as Bangkok, Jakarta, and Metro Manila have been affected by relatively severe and paralyzing floods in recent years. In reality, floods are not new to these cities. Cities are often located along riverbanks and lakefronts, due to the importance of water in the history of cities as sources of livelihoods and the role of rivers in trades. Post-1945 economic growth in Southeast Asian cities had resulted in rapid urban development. Inadequate sewage system and lack of control in urban master plans resulted in the deterioration of urban water bodies, especially in terms of water quality and the surrounding environment. Various technical solutions have been offered to prevent floods to disturb socio-economic dynamics of the city, although there have never been 100% protection against floods. This paper will begin by an overview of humanistic planning perspective and hegemony in social and political trajectories of floods. It would then question these principles in Southeast Asian cities, especially in terms of community participation and the presence of large-scale interventions in flood risk mitigation projects. Focusing on the role of communities and people’s participation in the planning process, this paper looks at the pattern of urban flood mitigation projects, environmental improvement and riverfront redevelopment trajectories in Southeast Asian cities to obtain in-depth understanding of community roles in socially constructing and redefining urban landscapes in relation to floods. Existing involvements of riverbank communities in flood disaster governance are gathered through interviews and ethnographic field observations. Finally, the paper will conclude with the usefulness and limitations of humanistic planning in returning the priority of urban flood disaster governance to people’s lives.