
Danantara: It’s the politics, stupid!
Analysis, Economy, PoliciesFor many observers, Danantara potentially reproduces Indonesia’s predatory political economy. On this view, SOEs embody rising economic nationalism, that is state capitalism, and crowd out capital formation by private firms.
Yet, digging into its board structure, it is apparent that Danantara instead reflects combined forms of capitalism – private fossil-fuel and tech, as well as state capital – that have overall benefited from Indonesia’s oligarchic politics, as well sustaining its high costs.

China-Indonesia economic cooperation cannot continue to overlook human security
Economy, Environment, Foreign PolicyFor national elites, China is now widely seen as a providential partner whose capital and technology are pivotal for a development agenda centred on infrastructure, digitalisation and downstreaming activities. But while Chinese funding has helped Indonesia rise up the value chain, it is clear this comes at a high cost to local people and the natural environment.