Grassroot free fight neo-liberalism: Becak motor (bentor) drivers as homo sacer in downtown Yogyakarta, Indonesia

This article is an in-depth exploration of the struggle of becak motor (abbreviated as bentor) drivers as homo sacer who must fight hard amidst the wheels of neo-liberalism at the grassroots level. Becak motor is a kind of motorized pedicab commonly found in Indonesia, especially on the island of Java. In the era of the free market, bentor drivers are not only battling over economic resources to get passengers, but they are also fighting against structural barriers where regulations on bentor are left deliberately unclear. The exacerbation of this condition is caused by their uncertainty in obtaining access to proper welfare as citizens. This study employs a qualitative method with a life history approach that specifically explores the journey of life and important events that have shaped the lives of bentor drivers in Yogyakarta. The informants consisted of three categories: first, bentor drivers from urban areas; second, from the countryside (rural); third, bentor drivers who represent becak association administrators. The findings of this study indicate that bentor drivers have to struggle to access economic resources at the grass-roots level due to several factors, such as the increasing number of private vehicles leading to a decrease in demand for the use of bentors, increasing competition with online transportation applications; there are structural barriers related to the regulation of bentors which continuously being ignored; and other negative stigma attached to bentors. In facing these challenges, they also have a survival strategy developed from a mutual help mechanism designed within the bentor community. Therefore, this article offers an academic debate on the battle of bentor drivers as a homo sacer in the vortex of neo-liberalism, as well as presents a critical perspective in providing an overview of how neo-liberalism works at the grassroots level. © 2024 Intellect Ltd Article.