Vote buying is widely held to be endemic in Indonesian politics but it has rarely been studied in detail. In Talking Indonesia this week, Dr Dave McRae speaks to Professor Edward Aspinall, who with Indonesian colleagues has recently co-authored a paper on the mechanics of vote buying by electoral candidates in the 2014 legislative elections and the logic underpinning these candidates’ actions.

Despite the many problems of its domestic leagues, Indonesia has a strong and passionate football fan culture. Who exactly supports football and in what ways? What can be done to improve the game, for supporters and players? Dr Ken Setiawan discusses these issues and more with Dr Andy Fuller in the latest episode of Talking Indonesia.

In 2014, Indonesia launched its comprehensive national health care scheme, the JKN. What impact has it had during its first two years of operations? What policy challenges is the government facing? Dr Dave McRae discusses these issues and more with Professor Hasbullah Thabrany and Professor Laksono Trisnantoro in the latest Talking Indonesia podcast.

Indonesian cinema is beginning to make a mark on the world stage, with dozens of films competing in international festivals over recent years. What are the main challenges faced by Indonesian filmmakers? How can these problems be addressed, and what moves, if any, has the government made to strengthen the industry? Dr Ken Setiawan discusses these issues and more with Dr Gaston Soehadi in the latest Talking Indonesia podcast.

What are the main forms of violence against women in Indonesia, and the key drivers of this violence? What support is available to women suffering violence? In Talking Indonesia this week, Dr Dave McRae explores these questions and more with Yuniyanti Chuzaifah, vice chair of the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan).

Why do Indonesians migrate? And how do women – the majority of Indonesian migrants – maintain links with their home country? Dr Ken Setiawan speaks to Dr Monika Winarnita about these issues and more in the latest Talking Indonesia podcast.

Inequality in Indonesia has reached record levels. What is driving this inequality, and what does Indonesian society look like as a result? Dr Dave McRae explores these issues and more with Dr Matthew Wai-Poi in the latest Talking Indonesia podcast.

It is often assumed that Indonesian visual artists began highlighting social and political issues in earnest following the end of authoritarianism in 1998. But to what extent is this assumption correct? In Talking Indonesia this week, Dr Ken Setiawan explores this issue and more with Dr Wulan Dirgantoro from Lasalle College of the Arts in Singapore.

Following the recent attack on the Gafatar community, and efforts to evict Ahmadiyah followers from Bangka Island, religious intolerance is once again in the spotlight. What are the drivers of intolerance, and what forms does it take? Is President Joko Widodo doing any better than his predecessor at managing the issue? Dr Dave McRae explores these questions with Ihsan Ali-Fauzi in the latest Talking Indonesia podcast.

After years of obscurity, Indonesian literature is having a moment on the world stage. In Talking Indonesia this week, Dr Ken Setiawan chats to Lily Yulianti Farid about why Indonesian literature has been overlooked for so long, and how community initiatives are helping to promote Indonesian books.

Police have named Bahrun Naim, an Indonesian affiliated with ISIS, as the suspected mastermind of the Jakarta attacks. Who is he, and does this mean Indonesia should expect further attacks from ISIS-affiliated in groups in the country? In this special edition of Talking Indonesia, Dr Dave McRae explores these issues with Solahudin, a leading expert on jihadism in Indonesia.

British naturalist Alfred Wallace was a leading evolutionary scholar known for describing the Wallace Line, which separates the distinct flora and fauna of eastern and western Indonesia. In Talking Indonesia, Dr Dave McRae speaks to Dr Jeff Neilson, who is exploring the relevance of “a Wallacean worldview” for the study of sustainable livelihoods.