Aceh in the 2024 Indonesian elections: self-rule but shared spoils
2024 Indonesian Elections, Political parties, PoliticsAceh will also have its own provincial gubernatorial and legislative elections in November this year. One leading candidate for Aceh’s governor is Muzakir “Mualem” Manaf, who is again chairing Prabowo’s Aceh campaign. There is a good chance that both will be victorious in 2024.
Indonesia is one of the world’s largest democracies, but it’s weaponising defamation laws to smother dissent
Law, Natural ResourcesTwo former coordinators of one of Indonesia’s most prominent human rights organisations have escaped conviction in a defamation case brought by a powerful government minister. While their astonishing acquittal is welcome, the case marked a bleak new low for freedom of expression in one of the world’s largest democracies.
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?
Prabowo Subianto: Indonesia’s perennial strongman recast as the adorable grandpa
2024 Indonesian Elections, PoliticsPrabowo's political trajectory is a case study of resilience and reinvention. Throughout his long career he has faced accusations of war crimes, incompetence and even treason – and yet his detractors have never managed to end his political influence. This is due, in part, to Prabowo’s ability to repeatedly adapt his image. But as the 2024 election approaches, it is his most recent persona – that of an adorable grandpa for Indonesia’s Generation Z and millennial voters – that could be his most savvy.
Grading Nadiem’s education reforms
Education, Policy in FocusIn 2019, President Widodo appointed Nadiem Makarim, the US-educated founder of Gojek, as the Minister of Education. Four years later, the Indonesian education system looks – at least at a surface level – unrecognisable from the president’s first term. But have Nadiem’s reforms been effective? And what lays ahead for Indonesia’s next education minister?
Talking Indonesia: Indonesian encounters in Israel and Palestine
Foreign Policy, Migration, ReligionFormal diplomatic relations do not exist between Israel and Indonesia so direct interactions between these two peoples are rare.
Yet as Indonesia’s expanding middle classes enjoy greater access to international travel, Muslim and Christian Indonesians are increasingly visiting the holy land. Have these encounters shifted the perceptions of these pilgrims about the conflict Israel-Palestine conflict? Jemma Purdey explores this question with anthropologist Mirjam Lücking.
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?
Why is Indonesia still failing victims of domestic violence?
Gender, LawThere were about 18,000 reports of violence in Indonesia from January 1 to September 2023. Women were the victims in 16,000 of these and around 11,000 cases related to acts of domestic violence. So where has Indonesia gone wrong in protecting women and children from domestic violence?
Campaign costs impeding women’s political representation in Indonesia
2024 Indonesian Elections, Gender, PoliticsThere are several factors frustrating women’s political representation including voter beliefs about women’s leadership, gendered processes of candidate selection in political parties and the low numbers of women holding senior positions in the civil service. However, the possibility of improving women’s political representation in the upcoming February 2024 elections will also depend on overcoming arguably the biggest impediment to their election: money.
Aceh in the 2024 Indonesian elections: self-rule but shared spoils
2024 Indonesian Elections, Political parties, PoliticsAceh will also have its own provincial gubernatorial and legislative elections in November this year. One leading candidate for Aceh’s governor is Muzakir “Mualem” Manaf, who is again chairing Prabowo’s Aceh campaign. There is a good chance that both will be victorious in 2024.
Indonesia is one of the world’s largest democracies, but it’s weaponising defamation laws to smother dissent
Law, Natural ResourcesTwo former coordinators of one of Indonesia’s most prominent human rights organisations have escaped conviction in a defamation case brought by a powerful government minister. While their astonishing acquittal is welcome, the case marked a bleak new low for freedom of expression in one of the world’s largest democracies.
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?
Prabowo Subianto: Indonesia’s perennial strongman recast as the adorable grandpa
2024 Indonesian Elections, PoliticsPrabowo's political trajectory is a case study of resilience and reinvention. Throughout his long career he has faced accusations of war crimes, incompetence and even treason – and yet his detractors have never managed to end his political influence. This is due, in part, to Prabowo’s ability to repeatedly adapt his image. But as the 2024 election approaches, it is his most recent persona – that of an adorable grandpa for Indonesia’s Generation Z and millennial voters – that could be his most savvy.
Grading Nadiem’s education reforms
Education, Policy in FocusIn 2019, President Widodo appointed Nadiem Makarim, the US-educated founder of Gojek, as the Minister of Education. Four years later, the Indonesian education system looks – at least at a surface level – unrecognisable from the president’s first term. But have Nadiem’s reforms been effective? And what lays ahead for Indonesia’s next education minister?
Talking Indonesia: Indonesian encounters in Israel and Palestine
Foreign Policy, Migration, ReligionFormal diplomatic relations do not exist between Israel and Indonesia so direct interactions between these two peoples are rare.
Yet as Indonesia’s expanding middle classes enjoy greater access to international travel, Muslim and Christian Indonesians are increasingly visiting the holy land. Have these encounters shifted the perceptions of these pilgrims about the conflict Israel-Palestine conflict? Jemma Purdey explores this question with anthropologist Mirjam Lücking.
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?
Why is Indonesia still failing victims of domestic violence?
Gender, LawThere were about 18,000 reports of violence in Indonesia from January 1 to September 2023. Women were the victims in 16,000 of these and around 11,000 cases related to acts of domestic violence. So where has Indonesia gone wrong in protecting women and children from domestic violence?
2024 ELECTIONSSee all
Elite machinations pose major challenge to Golkar’s future
19 August 2024/by Arya Fernandes, https://indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au/author/arya/Jokowi’s power consolidation: navigating post-election politics
26 March 2024/by A Syahsam Dwi Ihza Muhammad Trisnowidodo, https://indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au/author/syahsam-trisnowidodo/, Januar Aditya Pratama, https://indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au/author/januar-aditya-pratama/These three parties could shape the future of political opposition in Indonesia
22 February 2024/by Yohanes Sulaiman, https://indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au/author/yohanes-sulaiman/Prabowo victory secures Jokowi’s legacy
20 February 2024/by Virdika Rizky Utama, https://indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au/author/virdika-rizky-utama/Indonesia at Melbourne is supported by:
Indonesia at Melbourne
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
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