The Social Construction of Unequal Road Repair: Evidence from Karangpoh Village, Indonesia

Abstract

Road infrastructure deterioration remains a persistent public service challenge in many Indonesian urban villages. While pothole damage is widespread, repair interventions are often implemented unevenly despite comparable levels of road deterioration. Existing studies primarily emphasize technical aspects of infrastructure development, whereas the social mechanisms shaping repair priorities at the local level remain underexplored. This study investigates how social relations influence the distribution of pothole repair in Karangpoh Village, Indonesia. Employing a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews, field observations, and document analysis involving 25 participants, including residents, neighborhood leaders, and village officials. The findings reveal that repair prioritization is socially constructed through three interrelated mechanisms: residents' proximity to local authorities, the public visibility of damaged roads, and the presence of influential community actors who actively advocate for infrastructure improvements. Rather than being determined solely by technical urgency or budgetary considerations, road repair decisions are shaped by informal power relations and everyday governance practices. These findings extend Social Construction Theory by demonstrating how local infrastructure policies are negotiated through social interactions and unequal access to decision-making processes. The study highlights the importance of transparent, participatory, and needs-based infrastructure governance to reduce spatial inequality and strengthen public trust in local government.