The new capital city of Indonesia - social polarisation or social cohesion in Nusantara?

The relocation of the Indonesian capital city from Jakarta to East Kalimantan had an impact on the socio-cultural aspects of the society. This research aims to understand the extent to which the development of IKN can trigger polarisation or, conversely, increase social cohesion. A mixed-methods approach is used in this research’s methodology. This research is located in the Core Area of the Government Centre of IKN, the IKN Area, and the Development Area of IKN. The research results show that, in general, there is social cohesion between local communities and newcomers, while social polarisation is not yet visible. In general, the development of IKN can strengthen society’s adaptation to major changes, although specific challenges related to perceptions of security need to be overcome strategically. ©2025 Human Geographies.