Indonesian Politics

Just as the Renaissance from the 14th to the 17th centuries overcame the dark Middle Ages by reappraising classical insights, critical history is now imperative.

Just as it was particularly difficult for the progressives to withstand repression and killings, reviving the Left after 1965 was equally formidable.

During this pandemic, “losing” these key Parliamentary functions has exacerbated the lack of “checks and balances”

Public opinion should force the Indonesian government to consider and adjust its policies and responses to China in the South China Sea.

Beyond future statehood, supporting the Palestinian right of self-determination should acknowledge they are best placed to shape their future.

Will the crackdown demonstrate the powerlessness of Islamists or serve as a unifying issue?

Native oligarchs and unscrupulous security apparatuses from the police to the military continue to exploit natural resources with ease and impunity.

The Indonesian government's approach to Islamic outliers simultanesously marks them as dangerous and fails to protect the vulnerable from harm

Local media are failing to supervise regional Indonesia, with many relying on government PR budgets or politicians’ fresh cash.

The current arrangements slow initial local responses without a corresponding payoff.

Novel phenomena emerge as students find common ground with workers, but there are risks.

The return of student protests and the government’s response have are reminiscent of the era of authoritarian rule

Trade unions and human rights groups believe the law is in fact no more than an attempt by the nation’s oligarchs to roll back political reform.

Economic disasters have a history of bringing down governments in Indonesia; COVID-19 impacts hardest on the disadvantaged in an already fragile system.

Research shows most voters use shortcuts to assess public policy. Afrimadona argues that in Jakarta, the leader associated with the policy is key, even if voters might lean elsewhere with different information.

Indonesia's environmental policies are at odds with the rhetoric around palm oil production and Indonesians are not equipped with enough information to understand the risks of a changing climate.

Indonesia’s labour unions refer to the new omnibus legislation proposed by the government as RUU Cilaka, which sounds like the Bahasa Indonesia word for “wretched”.

A reflection on the Jokowi and Prabowo campaign strategies and how they unfolded.

The role of youth and students has been sidelined in the history of the resistance movement.

Extremist labels are being utilised to repress criticism, strong-arm opponents and silence challengers of the Indonesian government.

The co-existence of Indonesia’s competitive elections with illiberal trends appears contradictory but the two are in fact interrelated.

Social media companies have more control than the government of Indonesia in limiting the freedom of expression of its citizens. To what extent will they control the political discourse in Indonesia?

The make-up of Joko Widodo’s second-term cabinet confirms worrying trends.

Jokowi's priorities for his second term revolve around human resources development, but not human rights.