Road building is good for the economy overall but does little to solve the congestion that plagues Indonesia’s major provinces.
Campaigning in the shadow of Ahok in NTT
Fears of intolerant Islamic movements have intensified identity politics in Christian communities in the east.
Indonesia: how the polls are performing
There’s little reason not to expect a comfortable win for Jokowi, but difficulties in predicting legislative election results remain.
An anti-feminist wave in Indonesia’s election?
Socially conservative female candidates are making their mark in the 2019 legislative elections.
Jokowi and NU: the view from the pesantren
Islamic boarding schools are ground zero for Jokowi’s efforts to win over the Muslim grassroots. Ideology and patronage are both playing a part.
Indonesia’s bureaucracy is a campaign tool—but not for the president
Why attempts to mobilise the civil service in presidential elections aren’t likely to have much effect.
Jokowi and the preachers: an ambiguous pre-election relationship
Reflections on socio-religious developments and the political role of Indonesia’s Islamic preachers appealing to the middle class.
Indonesia’s elections in the periphery: a view from Maluku
The eastern islands showcase how national-level polarisation filters through to the grassroots, but also how the realities of decentralised power interfere with national-level political designs.
Weighing Jokowi’s infrastructure projects in Eastern Indonesia
Out in the east, there is a feeling that Sulawesi has received disproportionate attention from Jokowi.
How ‘moderate’ are Indonesian Muslims?
The numbers on how Indonesia stacks up in comparison to other Muslim-majority countries.
Who’s running on Islam in Indonesia?
A look at the religious rhetoric contained in parliamentary candidates’ campaign platforms.
The polarisation paradox in Indonesia’s 2019 elections
Social media may be making Indonesia seem more politically polarised than it is.
In defence of Jokowinomics
Jokowi's statist developmentalism isn't perfect, but it's a realistic response to the political economy barriers that have held up private investment in infrastructure.
The view from Papua on the 2019 elections
Voters are grateful for development projects, but aren’t giving Jokowi a pass for his human rights failures.
Exhibition review: ‘Bali: Welcome to Paradise’
Vannessa Hearman on a Dutch exhibition on Bali that "packs a punch".
Questioning Prabowo’s alliance with Islamists
Disputes that mark this pragmatic alliance should worry Islamists that Prabowo may disregard their demands.
Fishing for votes in Indonesia
Fishers have become emblematic of the "wong cilik" this election, but their political engagement remains fragmented and localised.
A looming Australian boom in Indonesian contemporary art?
Australian institutions and their patrons were slow to wake up to Indonesian artists, but the future looks encouraging.
Building a better infrastructure policy after Indonesia’s elections
Jokowi’s overreliance on state-owned enterprises has undesirable side-effects. But the private sector has its own problems.
Challenges to Countering Violent Extremism in Indonesia
The dominant counter-terrorism policy paradigm is unnecessary limiting, and sometimes counter-productive.
What will Indonesian women win this election?
Women are central to grassroots campaigning, but what counts as "women's issues" is still hopelessly limited.
Who’ll pay for Indonesia’s national health insurance?
Politicians need to make some hard decisions to make the system financially sustainable.