Synergy of government, religion, culture in urban development: approach from the case of Pariaman City

This article argues new approaches in socio-political aspects of urban development that are not solely motivated by space or economic gain. In addition, it emphasizes the strong contribution of religion and culture to urban development policies. Religion and culture may become obstacles to urban development. The influence and importance of religion and cultural values in Pariaman urban development can be seen in a city’s vision and mission for urban development and the importance of cultural and religious leader roles in urban development. This article presents an alternative concept for urban development in which religious and cultural values remain respected and urban policies are still beneficial and effective. This alternative is presented in a conceptual framework called government, religion and expert synergy. A perspective of a non-Western city is offered in this article, which highlights the importance of religion and cultural appropriateness in non-Western city urban development policies.