TALKING INDONESIA PODCASTSee all


Domestic violence in marriage: tackling the taboo

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More than a decade has passed since Indonesia passed legislation on elimination of violence against women in the home. But as Dina Afrianty writes, most women still prefer to escape abusive marriages through divorce, rather than pursue charges against their husbands.

Indonesian cinema soars, no thanks to the government

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2015 has been a stellar year for Indonesian cinema, with more than a dozen films competing at international festivals. Dr Gaston Soehadi writes that this success has been achieved in the almost complete absence of government support.

What is Bogor Mayor Bima Arya playing at?

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Bogor Mayor Bima Arya Sugiarto rose to power in 2014 with pledges to eradicate corruption in the civil service, restore order to the city and improve waste management. But as Lies Marcoes writes, over recent months his name has become synonymous with religious intolerance.

Talking Indonesia: resource nationalism

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What is resource nationalism, what is driving its emergence in Indonesia, and what does it mean for the country? Dr Dave McRae explores these issues with PhD candidate Eve Warburton in the latest Talking Indonesia podcast.

Memories of violence: forbidden, not forgotten

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Indonesian authorities have silenced discussion of the 1965 massacre at the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival. Coordinators of the cancelled programs, Associate Professor Kate McGregor and Dr Jemma Purdey, question why discussion of 1965 is now considered a threat to security. Image by Andrew Dyson.

Spectre of censorship casts a shadow over Ubud festival

, ,
The Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (UWRF) was forced on Friday to cancel planned sessions on the 1965 massacre following pressure from local authorities. Dr Ken Setiawan, whose father was imprisoned on Buru Island by the Soeharto regime, reflects on this extraordinary crackdown on freedom of expression.

Why trade liberalisation should be part of Indonesia’s economic diplomacy

,
Indonesian diplomats have been encouraged to promote the country's exports and attract more foreign investment. But as Awidya Santikajaya writes, unless trade liberalisation is also part of the discussion, their efforts will not come to much.

Jokowi's first year: environment

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The thick haze choking much of Sumatra and Kalimantan and the recent murder of environmental activist Salim Kancil have come to define the environmental record of President Joko Widodo's administration. Josi Khatarina looks back at a year of disappointing progress.

Jokowi's first year: human rights

,
President Joko Widodo came to power one year ago with promises to combat impunity for past human rights violations, safeguard freedom of religion and improve welfare in Papua. Has the president met any of these pledges? Former LBH Jakarta director Nurkholis Hidayat takes a look at Jokowi's human rights record.

Domestic violence in marriage: tackling the taboo

, ,
More than a decade has passed since Indonesia passed legislation on elimination of violence against women in the home. But as Dina Afrianty writes, most women still prefer to escape abusive marriages through divorce, rather than pursue charges against their husbands.

Indonesian cinema soars, no thanks to the government

,
2015 has been a stellar year for Indonesian cinema, with more than a dozen films competing at international festivals. Dr Gaston Soehadi writes that this success has been achieved in the almost complete absence of government support.

What is Bogor Mayor Bima Arya playing at?

, ,
Bogor Mayor Bima Arya Sugiarto rose to power in 2014 with pledges to eradicate corruption in the civil service, restore order to the city and improve waste management. But as Lies Marcoes writes, over recent months his name has become synonymous with religious intolerance.

Talking Indonesia: resource nationalism

, ,
What is resource nationalism, what is driving its emergence in Indonesia, and what does it mean for the country? Dr Dave McRae explores these issues with PhD candidate Eve Warburton in the latest Talking Indonesia podcast.

Memories of violence: forbidden, not forgotten

,
Indonesian authorities have silenced discussion of the 1965 massacre at the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival. Coordinators of the cancelled programs, Associate Professor Kate McGregor and Dr Jemma Purdey, question why discussion of 1965 is now considered a threat to security. Image by Andrew Dyson.

Spectre of censorship casts a shadow over Ubud festival

, ,
The Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (UWRF) was forced on Friday to cancel planned sessions on the 1965 massacre following pressure from local authorities. Dr Ken Setiawan, whose father was imprisoned on Buru Island by the Soeharto regime, reflects on this extraordinary crackdown on freedom of expression.

Why trade liberalisation should be part of Indonesia’s economic diplomacy

,
Indonesian diplomats have been encouraged to promote the country's exports and attract more foreign investment. But as Awidya Santikajaya writes, unless trade liberalisation is also part of the discussion, their efforts will not come to much.

Jokowi's first year: environment

,
The thick haze choking much of Sumatra and Kalimantan and the recent murder of environmental activist Salim Kancil have come to define the environmental record of President Joko Widodo's administration. Josi Khatarina looks back at a year of disappointing progress.

Jokowi's first year: human rights

,
President Joko Widodo came to power one year ago with promises to combat impunity for past human rights violations, safeguard freedom of religion and improve welfare in Papua. Has the president met any of these pledges? Former LBH Jakarta director Nurkholis Hidayat takes a look at Jokowi's human rights record.
NEWS & EVENTS

TALKING INDONESIA PODCASTSee all


EDITOR’S PICKSSee all

Military-cleric alliance may fuel new anti-LGBTQ sentiment in Indonesia

21 July 2026/by Rafiqa Qurrata Ayun, https://indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au/author/rafiqa/

Indonesia’s economic centralisation under Prabowo

7 July 2026/by Norman Joshua, https://indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au/author/normanjoshua/

Is Jakarta turning into Gotham? How viral crime panics become pretext for expanding military visibility

23 June 2026/by Ian Wilson, https://indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au/author/ian/

Prabowo’s foreign stooge myth: Are Indonesians buying it?

26 May 2026/by Djayadi Hanan, https://indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au/author/djayadi/, Yoes C Kenawas, https://indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au/author/yoes/

Indonesia at Melbourne is supported by:

Melbourne Law School Asia Institute Centre for Indonesian Law, Islam and Society Indonesia Forum Faculty of Arts Indonesia Democracy Hallmark Research Initiative

Indonesia at Melbourne

Room 726, Level 7, 185 Pelham St,
The University of Melbourne
Parkville 3010 VIC Australia

Phone: +61 3 83448581

Email:  indo-at-melb@unimelb.edu.au

Date created: 1 July 2015

Editor: Ary Hermawan

Editorial board: 
Professor Tim Lindsey
Dr Tim Mann
Aron Corbett

We acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Owners of the lands upon which our campuses are situated.

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