"Culture in Traffic: An Anthropological Study of Makassar Urban Mobility"

Abstract

Congestion in Makassar City is not just an obstacle on the road, but a social symptom that reflects the way of life, choices, and inequality in urban spaces. This research aims to understand how city residents experience, respond, and interpret mobility in the context of congestion which is almost a daily routine. Using a qualitative approach with microethnography methods, data was collected through participatory observation, in-depth interviews, and field documentation.

The results of the study show that mobility is not only a matter of moving from one point to another, but also concerns body experience, emotions, social time, and vehicle symbolism as a marker of class. City residents demonstrate tactical strategies to get around congestion, such as choosing rat roads, relying on online motorcycle taxis, or flexibly adjusting their daily rhythms. Technologies such as Google Maps and WhatsApp groups are becoming part of the new social network in mobility.

This study concludes that urban mobility is a space of cultural, symbolic, and political production. In it, there is a narrative of resilience, resilience, and adaptation of citizens to the city structure that is not fully on the side of human life. This study opens up a new space for understanding congestion as a cultural phenomenon, not just a technical problem.