Talking Indonesia: marriage migration and intercultural families
Migration, Society, Talking IndonesiaAsian women who are developing relationships with men from Western countries, like Australia, be it through snail mails, online sites or other means, often have to face the stereotype of the ‘subservient woman’. In her new book, anthropologist Emeritus Professor Kathryn Robinson looks at intercultural marriages between Asian women and Australian men.
K-pop and the presidential election: Anies Baswedan riding the Korean Bubble
2024 Indonesian Elections, Media, SocietySocial media has become the key battle ground as candidates try to curate and amplify their image with younger voters. Nowhere is this changing online campaign landscape more evident than presidential candidate Anies Baswedan’s recent foray into K-pop fandom through the X (Twitter) account Anies Bubble.
Coldplay controversy: Islamic hardliners driving Indonesian cancel culture
Religion, SocietyReligious protesters and police clashed outside the Coldplay concert at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on 16 November. Attempts to cancel public figures are becoming a common occurrence in Indonesia. But what motivates these religious hardliners leading Indonesian cancel culture?
Talking Indonesia: Indonesian student armies
History, SocietyIn 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.
A ‘golden Indonesia’ will need to embrace meritocracy
2024 Indonesian Elections, Policy in Focus, SocietyThe topic of meritocracy has been thrust into the spotlight again since the controversy surrounding the appointment of Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, as the running mate of presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto. If Indonesia wants to be a developed nation by 2045, it needs to get rid of nepotism and adopt the meritocratic systems of many developed nations.
How will Indonesia’s dangdut stars shape the 2024 election?
2024 Indonesian Elections, Arts, SocietySince the 1970s, Indonesian politicians have used dangdut music as a tool to attract a crowd. Dangdut politics in 2024 is shaping up as a generational contest. The so-called King of Dangdut, Rhoma Irama, will be there again. But a wave of social media savvy dangdut stars will also make their mark.
Talking Indonesia: activism, memory and sexual violence
History, Society, Talking IndonesiaIn 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?
Talking Indonesia: YouTubers
Media, Society, Talking IndonesiaAs of July 2023, Indonesia 139 million YouTube viewers making it one of the biggest YouTube audiences in the world. And yet, the world of YouTube in Indonesia still remains under-researched on the international stage.
NGOs say civic space shrinking fast in Indonesia
Law, SocietyIn recent years, many studies conducted by human rights organisations and think tanks have found civic space in Indonesia is shrinking, at least in the areas of freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association. The authors' recent research into the experiences of Indonesian civil society organisations corroborates this view.