What roles are played by religion and culture in perceptions of disability in Indonesia and how do these perceptions influence policy? What is being done, or should be done, to promote inclusion of people with disability? In Talking Indonesia this week, Dr Ken Setiawan discusses these issues and more with leading disability advocate Slamet Thohari, from Brawijaya University in Malang, East Java.

What accounts for Indonesia’s infrastructure deficit and how can the government best address it? How does President Joko Widodo differ in his approach to infrastructure compared to his predecessor, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono? Dr Dave McRae discusses these issues and more with Associate Professor Jamie S. Davidson, from the National University of Singapore, in the latest Talking Indonesia podcast.

Indonesia’s indigenous peoples face serious challenges, including insecure rights to land and lack of recognition of their traditional religions. How are these issues being addressed, and what regional differences have to be taken into account? Dr Ken Setiawan explores these questions and more with Sandra Moniaga, from Komnas HAM, in the latest Talking Indonesia podcast.

How widespread is corruption within the Indonesian police? What power do illicit funds afford the institution? And what are the prospects for reform under President Joko Widodo and new Indonesian Police Chief Tito Karnavian? In Talking Indonesia this week, Dr Dave McRae discusses these issues and more with Dr Jacqui Baker, from Murdoch University.

How free is the Indonesian press? How does the concentration of media ownership affect journalists and audiences? And how are digital technologies transforming the media landscape? Dr Ken Setiawan chats to Dr Ross Tapsell about these issues and more in Talking Indonesia.

What are the drivers and impacts of high smoking prevalence in Indonesia? What steps could the government take to control tobacco, and what arguments are made within Indonesia for and against these measures? Dr Dave McRae discusses these issues and more with Abdillah Ahsan, from the University of Indonesia, in the latest Talking Indonesia podcast.

Rapid urbanisation poses many challenges for Indonesian policy makers, including traffic congestion, pollution, and a lack of parks and green space. How have Indonesian leaders responded to these challenges? What has been done to address heritage conservation amid this rapid change? In Talking Indonesia this week, Dr Ken Setiawan discusses these issues and more with Professor Widjaja Martokusumo.

The past month has seen rising tensions in the South China Sea. What are the implications of recent developments for Indonesia, and how can it best respond? Will Indonesia’s relations with China be affected? Dr Dave McRae speaks to Dr Makmur Keliat, from the University of Indonesia, about these issues and more in the latest Talking Indonesia podcast.

Since the advent of democracy, Islam has become increasingly visible in Indonesian society and politics. But the electoral success of Islamic parties remains limited. How does this compare with the experiences of other Muslim-majority countries? Will Islamic parties ever be able to dominate Indonesian politics? Dr Ken Setiawan chats to Professor Vedi Hadiz about these issues and more in the latest Talking Indonesia podcast.

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.