Includes bibliographical references (p. 417-462) and index.

Preliminary Material -- Introduction -- A political and spatial history of Indonesian cities -- Race, class, and spatial segregation -- Life in the kampongs -- Land tenure -- Housing in the Kampong; The Contest between dwellers and the Government -- The housing crisis during the years of turmoil -- Post-war reconstruction and the recommencement of urban planning -- Construction; Public housing and the private sector -- Strategies of landlords and tenants -- Conclusion -- Appendix 1. Population figures of Indonesia’s major cities -- Bibliography -- Index.

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Freek Colombijn examines the social changes in Indonesian cities during the process of decolonization. That process had major repercussions for urban society. These social changes are studied from the angle of urban space in general, and the provision of housing in particular. This provides fresh insight into how people experienced decolonization. The author challenges the idea that a shift from ethnic to class differences was the overriding social change during decolonization. He argues instead that class differences had already formed the predominant dividing lines in colonial urban society. Colombijn also focuses on the shifting balance of power between the main agents in the urban arena. Through the use of hitherto unused historical sources, the book presents a wealth of new data about the Indonesian city and the decolonization process. Published in cooperation with the Netherlands Institute of War Documentation (NIOD). Originally published with imprint KITLV (ISBN 9789067182911).