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Top Stories| Indonesia at Melbourne
While the protests were, in the most part, authentic and spontaneous public events, the violence that ensued appears to be orchestrated – or at least manipulated - by powerful factions of the oligarchic elite.| Indonesia at Melbourne
While Jakarta's eviction politics have often dominated headlines and grassroots campaigns, the experiences of those who have been relocated to rusunawa (social housing) complexes have remained largely invisible.| Indonesia at Melbourne
So, what do these protests say about current attitudes towards politicians, their work and their lifestyles in Indonesia? Following on from the recent One Piece flag phenomenon, the critiques that have unfolded reflect much deeper issues regarding Indonesians perceptions of politicians. Not only are they seen as out of touch with the concerns of everyday people but also the decisions they make about government spending are made without transparency and accountability.| Indonesia at Melbourne
Ahead of Indonesia's Independence Day, viral photos and videos of people waving the Jolly Roger cartoon pirate flag from the popular Japanese anime ‘One Piece’ broke the internet.| Indonesia at Melbourne
The wave of protests that has broken out in Pati cannot be seen simply as anger at a single government policy; it is as an eruption of dissatisfaction that has been building for years.| Indonesia at Melbourne
The sight of the military swarming the streets to prevent student protesters from disrupting a DPR plenary session brought back memories of President Soeharto’s New Order, when soldiers were an integral and oppressive part of Indonesian political and social life.| Indonesia at Melbourne
The violence, marginalisation, and dispossession faced by indigenous communities in Indonesia are not disconnected incidents. They are expressions of a deeper historical logic in which colonial methods of control have been repurposed by the postcolonial state.| Indonesia at Melbourne
From the algorithms that curate your social media feed to the recommendation systems that influence what you buy, artificial intelligence is quietly reshaping every aspect of our daily lives. Yet most of us remain in the dark about how these powerful technologies are governed—and that's a problem we can't afford to ignore.| Indonesia at Melbourne
What to make of the Indonesia-US deal now that final tariff rates for other countries have started to take shape? Did Prabowo blink too soon? And more importantly, did Prabowo’s administration carefully calculate the scale and implications of the US demands that accompanied the ‘lower’ tariff rate?| Indonesia at Melbourne
Regardless of all the rhetoric, if Prabowo’s war on corruption, framed as one of his populist promises, ultimately ends up selectively targeting his political enemies and protecting his allies, it will be primarily serving his own interests rather than those of the public.| Indonesia at Melbourne
Small holder palm oil plants are aging, yields are decreasing and company profits are becoming leaner.| Indonesia at Melbourne
A state that monitors its citizens without restraint is no longer protecting its people.| Indonesia at Melbourne
Perhaps the most problematic aspect of the court's decision is that implementing it will likely violate the Constitution itself.| Indonesia at Melbourne
The controversy over nickel mining in Raja Ampat, Papua, is a telling example of how capitalist-driven planetary urbanisation is reshaping the world we live in.| Indonesia at Melbourne
At this point, it remains unclear what the endgame is for the former Solo mayor as he navigates politics after his presidency. But the political walls do seem to be closing in on him.| Indonesia at Melbourne
How exactly are online food delivery platforms reshaping Indonesian society?| Indonesia at Melbourne
It is safe to say that Dedi, like Jokowi, is a digitally-empowered populist.| Indonesia at Melbourne
The project is essentially a revival of the old format of the Sejarah Nasional Indonesia (SNI, Indonesian National History). Developed under the New Order regime, the SNI was an effort to shape a hegemonic narrative of Indonesian history.| Indonesia at Melbourne
The problem is that even with the success of Jumbo, Indonesia’s animation industry is still facing major problems that could undermine its growth.| Indonesia at Melbourne
Andi Syamsuddin Arsyad, popularly known as Haji Isam, a young businessman from South Kalimantan, has become the new poster boy for Indonesia’s oligarchy.| Indonesia at Melbourne
As a politician steeped in Javanese statecraft and power plays, Jokowi clearly has little appetite for a direct confrontation. But this does not make him any less assertive than Prabowo.| Indonesia at Melbourne
The question is — what if, far from constraining him, the current oligarchic configuration will enable Prabowo to unleash his wildest autocratic desires?| Indonesia at Melbourne
Prabowo’s account of democracy places greater value on civility and cohesion than on contestation and debate.| Indonesia at Melbourne
A bizarre bamboo fence that has appeared in waters off the coast of Tangerang, Banten, has made national headlines across Indonesia in the last few weeks.| Indonesia at Melbourne
The Constitutional Court’s ruling is a breath of fresh air for more inclusive, transparent, and competitive presidential elections in Indonesia| Indonesia at Melbourne
Instead of a sole emphasis on religious tolerance, media coverage of any visit by Pope Francis should also acknowledge social justice and environmental justice.| Indonesia at Melbourne
NU turning a blind eye to the downsides of coal mining could be seen as a major boost for the coal industry and end up derailing efforts to fight global warming.| Indonesia at Melbourne
It took the Dutch until the twentieth century to dig a banjir (flood) canal and it is only recently that another canal was dug to allow rivers to circumvent the city on the other side. Despite this, modern Jakarta still floods. So what is the long-term solution? Whatever approach is…| Indonesia at Melbourne
In late May 2024, Indonesia’s Anti-corruption Commission (KPK) began prosecuting former Supreme Court Judge Gazalba Saleh in the Central Jakarta District Court. On the surface, there appeared to be nothing unusual about this case. However, the decision the three judges handed down in Saleh’s case was anything but usual. They…| Indonesia at Melbourne
