Indonesia’s palm oil win against EU: a triumph for the Global South and climate justice?
Analysis, Environment, Natural ResourcesThe palm oil dispute between Indonesia and the EU is certainly about trade, but it is more than that; it is also about setting rules, valuing voices, and defining global sustainability.
‘Dark Indonesia’ and Jokowi’s legacy of predatory populism
Analysis, PoliticsInstead of dismantling the entrenched power of oligarchic elites, Jokowi’s populism has deepened predatory tendencies by attacking institutional reforms established after the fall of Suharto. His political strategy has aligned the accumulation of capital with business interests, populist rhetoric, and bureaucratic life—while also weakening legal structures to allow exploitation of state resources and redistribution of wealth to political allies.
The new TNI Law is about much more than just military dual function
AnalysisThe new TNI law enhances legal justifications for the military’s dual function, but it does not inevitably lead to a return to military authoritarian rule under Prabowo. This is because attempts to centralise power in a single ruler inherently threaten to reduce the share of power and resources available to other contending political-economic elite players.
The new TNI Law: will it undermine maritime security governance?
Analysis, PoliciesThe amended TNI Law now legalises the current practice by which active Navy personnel serve in the Coast Guard without resigning from the Navy. However, it is wrong to assume that nothing will change because of this.
Will the new Military Law bring back Soeharto’s Dual Function?
Analysis, Policies, Politics, SecurityThe sight of the military swarming the streets to prevent student protesters from disrupting a DPR plenary session brought back memories of President Soeharto’s New Order, when soldiers were an integral and oppressive part of Indonesian political and social life.

Why the new TNI Law is legally flawed: critical notes from PSHK
Analysis, LawIndonesia’s House of Representatives (DPR) on Thursday approved controversial amendments to Law 34 of 2004 on the Indonesian Military (the TNI), despite public fears it will further expand military intervention in civilian affairs.

‘Allergic to protests’: Indonesian press face fresh challenges under Prabowo
Analysis, PoliciesThis chilly new media climate clearly adds to the myriad of problems already facing the Indonesian media. These range from extreme concentration of media ownership to various forms of elite cooptation.

The return of the protest song: Punk aesthetics in an age of a resurgent authoritarianism
Analysis, Arts, MusicEven in an era of intensifying authoritarianism, independent music communities continue to carve out spaces of resistance, proving that music can be more than just a medium of protest — it can be a force for real political action.

Danantara: a new hope or a phantom menace?
Analysis, EconomyThe establishment of Danantara, Indonesia’s new sovereign wealth fund (SWF), has sparked both optimism and scepticism.