Friedman in Indonesia: Boaz offers new approach
Aid & Development, UncategorizedThere are 25 million poor in Indonesia living on AUD 3 a day or less. Should outsiders help and if so, how?
‘Uncle’ Usman’s legal crusade against Constitutional Court a threat to rule of law?
Analysis, Law, UncategorizedFew observers would disagree with the contention that Indonesia’s status as a constitutional state is showing signs of erosion under President Jokowi.
What does Indonesia’s new capital mean for Jakarta and the ASEAN headquarters?
Explainer, UncategorizedJoko Widodo's plan to move Indonesia's capital from Jakarta to the new capital city of Nusantara looks set to continue. What does this mean for the future of Jakarta? The Indonesian government have insisted Jakarta will become a 'global city' but it is not clear whether the city will retain the ASEAN headquarters.
Proposed laws could revive Indonesia’s media oligarchy
Media, Politics, UncategorizedThe Indonesian public has been taken aback by two proposed changes to Indonesia’s media landscape. If these regulations are enacted, it will go a long way towards restoring the power of Indonesia’s traditional media oligarchs, whose influence has notably waned in the digital era.
Talking Indonesia: kretek capitalism
Economy, Talking Indonesia, UncategorizedWhat kinds of labour - paid, under-paid and unpaid - keep the the kretek industry fabulously profitable in Indonesia? In this episode of Talking Indonesia Elisabeth Kramer chats with Dr Marina Welker about her new book and deep dive on how multinational tobacco corporations impact the lives of ordinary Indonesians.
Are Indonesia’s former and future capital cities in political-economic symbiosis?
UncategorizedIn August 2019, Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo first announced his intention to relocate the Indonesian capital from Jakarta to Kalimantan. Jokowi has been busy spruiking the new capital, Nusantara, abroad. However, a lack of interest from foreign investors has forced the government to turn to domestic capital and, in particular, prominent developers invested in the speculative urban expansion of Jakarta, the current capital.
Is the Duterte-Marcos rift a glimpse into the future of the Jokowi-Prabowo alliance?
Foreign Policy, Politics, UncategorizedSeveral pundits have drawn comparisons between the Prabowo-Widodo and Marcos-Duterte alliances. So does the recent Duterte-Marcos dispute offer lessons on the long-term viability of these power sharing arrangements? And does it expose possible fault lines to watch out for in the Indonesia context?
What’s driving Aceh’s backlash against Rohingya refugees?
UncategorizedAceh has recently attracted media attention due to the local community's resistance to the arrival of Rohingya refugees in the area. This sudden change has left humanitarian observers confused, given Aceh welcomed Rohingya refugees with such open arms in 2015 – and won international praise for doing. So why did the Acehnese community go from welcoming hosts to hostile opponents of refugees?
How green is China’s Belt and Road investment in Indonesia?
Economy, Foreign Policy, UncategorizedIndonesian President Joko Widodo met with Chinese President Xi Xinping on the sidelines of the 5th Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Summit in Hong Kong on 17 October. They announced a unveiled a host of new investment deals focused on green development. But how green is Chinese investment, really?