History - Indonesia at Melbourne

Majapahit: the most powerful empire in Asia that most people have never heard of

There are signs that modern Indonesian is replicating some of the triumphs of the past. After a blood-soaked first encounter, the Majapahit empire found a way to come to an accommodation with the mighty emperors who ruled China.

Is Mohammad Hatta’s cooperative economic vision still relevant today?

Economy, Environment, History

Muhammad Hatta was a forward-thinking intellectual whose ideas regarding collaborative economics prefigured today's degrowth movement. His economic ideas present a viable and fair alternative to the capitalist paradigms driving social inequality and environmental degradation.

Bench Lacemaking students likely at Keradjinan Amai Satia, Kotogadang, 1915. (KITLV shelfmark 5557), http://hdl.handle.net/1887.1/item:787418

Talking Indonesia: women writers in the colonial era

Gender, History

Soenting Melajoe was the first newspaper for women published in West Sumatra during the colonial era in the Dutch East Indies. Bronwyn Beech Jones's PhD looks at how women and girls from Sumatra articulated their experiences and conceived of themselves, their communities and aspirations in Malay language periodicals published between 1912 and 1929.

Talking Indonesia: Indonesian student armies

History, Society

In this episode of Talking Indonesia, Tito Ambyo chats with Jonathan Tehusijarana about the history of Tentara Pelajar – student militia units – that were active during the Indonesian War of Independence and how this history still colours the Indonesian understanding of the term pemuda, meaning youth.

Talking Indonesia: activism, memory and sexual violence

History, Society, Talking Indonesia

In her new book 'Systemic Silencing: Activism, Memory and Sexual Violence in Indonesia', Kate McGregor takes a close look at the treatment of women in Indonesia and seeks to understand it in the context of Indonesia’s own colonial and post-colonial history. What were the social contexts in Indonesia prior to and following the Japanese Occupation in relation to women, sexual exploitation and prostitution? What did it take for the voices of these survivors to be heard? How is this period in Indonesia’s history remembered today? And what are its legacies for activism on sexual violence?

Wrecked? Belitung, Indonesia and the politics of maritime heritage

History, Natural Resources, Policy in Focus

In mid-1998, as President Suharto’s regime crumbled, local fishers discovered a 9th century shipwreck in waters near Belitung Island. The Belitung shipwreck was one of the most significant – and controversial – maritime discoveries of recent times.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/justcallmemo/14939478732/

Talking Indonesia: decoloniality and independence

History, Society, Talking Indonesia

We see that 78 years after Soekarno proclaimed independence in 1945 – Indonesians are still asking the question “sudahkah kita merdeka?” – are we truly independent yet. In this week’s episode of Talking Indonesia, Tito Ambyo chats with Tamara Soukotta about her research into conflicts in Ambon how to celebrate Independence Day critically and decolonially.

Farewell Richard Chauvel (1946–2022)

Education, History

Edward Aspinall reflects on the life and career of the much-respected scholar of eastern Indonesia, Richard Chauvel, who died on 1 April.

Talking Indonesia: transnational human rights activism

History, Human Rights, Talking Indonesia

In Talking Indonesia this week, Dr Dirk Tomsa chats to Dr Vannessa Hearman about the letter-writing friendships that political prisoners under Soeharto developed with supporters and human rights activists overseas.

Posted in: History