Politics 3 - Indonesia at Melbourne

Budget politics in Indonesia’s Covid-19 response

Analysis, Economy, Policies, Policy in Focus, Politics, Public health

Repeated amendments, growing tensions between the centre and the regions and a lack of public consultation appear to be part of the ‘new normal’ for Indonesia’s budget in 2020. But is there a better way? Akhmad Misbakhul Hasan dives into the politics of economic recovery from the pandemic.

The 2020 Constitutional Court Law amendments: a ‘gift’ to judges?

Law, Politics

Professor Simon Butt examines the hasty revisions made to the Law on the Constitutional Court, writing that the amendments have given too much independence to judges at the Court.

What we talk about when we talk about Papua

Human Rights, Politics, Security, Society

Racist abuse of Papuan students in Java sparked widespread protests in 2019. On the anniversary of the racist incident, Usman Hamid writes that the government needs to be prepared to have a more open conversation about Papua.

Talking Indonesia: Covid-19 and the military

Politics, Public health, Security, Talking Indonesia

Has the military’s role in countering the pandemic altered the balance of civil-military relations? Dr Dave McRae explores this issue and more with Dr Evan Laksmana in Talking Indonesia.

Local politics, Pilkada and the pandemic

Covid-19, Elections, Politics, Public health

Can Indonesia hold elections for regional heads in December without leading to a spike in Covid-19 infections, or opening the floodgates to vote buying? Dr Mada Sukmajati examines the risks.

Isolation blues: a legislative failure at the heart of Indonesia’s national ideology

Law, Politics, Religion, Society

Nadirsyah Hosen and Jeremy J Kingsley look at the debate over the Pancasila guidelines bill and argue that one of Pancasila's main strengths is its ambiguity.

What is Ma’ruf Amin doing?

Politics, Public health, Religion

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin has been conspicuously absent from efforts to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic. Dr Daniel Peterson looks at what he has been up to.

Indonesia's obsession with ideology: the case of the Pancasila bill

Law, Politics, Religion

Abdurrachman Satrio writes that the debate on the Pancasila bill is missing the point. The real concern is that Pancasila can be easily abused for anti-democratic purposes.

Involving the military in managing religious harmony betrays the spirit of reformasi

Politics, Religion, Security

Data on Religious Harmony Forums (FKUB) shows that many Indonesian communities are quite capable of discussing and managing religious difference, writes Ihsan Ali Fauzi.

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