Analyzing the Policy Conflict of Street Vendor Relocation in Malioboro, Yogyakarta: a Case Study Using Policy Conflict Framework

Abstract Book of the 10th International Conference on Research in Social Sciences

Year: 2025

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Analyzing the Policy Conflict of Street Vendor Relocation in Malioboro, Yogyakarta: a Case Study Using Policy Conflict Framework

Mohammad Budiono, Arif Setyawan

ABSTRACT:

The relocation of street vendors from Malioboro Street to Teras Malioboro in Yogyakarta has generated a sustained policy conflict between government authorities and affected vendors. Although the relocation was officially intended to enhance urban aesthetics and improve pedestrian access, vendors raised concerns over economic vulnerability and their exclusion from policy decision – making. This study applies the Policy Conflict Framework (PCF) to explore the underlying causes and intensity of the conflict. PCF enables an analysis of how conflict levels based on differences in policy positions and willingness to compromise influence the effectiveness of policy implementation. Using a bottom-up qualitative approach, the study draws on in-depth interviews with relocated vendors, field observations, and analysis of public policy documents and statements to capture the lived realities of street vendors. Findings suggest that material concerns such as income loss, misaligned policy goals among stakeholders, and inadequate participatory processes are central to the conflict. The government’s prioritization of spatial order and tourism is at odds with vendors appeals for economic security and equitable access to public space. The final policy direction appears to favor government interests over vendors’ demands, influenced by contextual political and administrative considerations. This situation reflects how limited engagement with affected communities and top-down implementation strategies can heighten resistance and undermine policy legitimacy. The study contributes to the theoretical application of PCF in urban policy settings and presents practical recommendations for managing policy conflict. Promoting inclusive dialogue and providing transitional economic assistance are proposed as key strategies to align urban development initiatives with the needs of informal economic actors and ensure more equitable outcomes.

Keywords: Policy Conflict Framework, Urban Policy, Relocation, Participation, Street Vendors, Malioboro