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Published daily by the Lowy Institute

  • 15 Jul 2021
    • Indonesia
    • Coronavirus

    Indonesia cannot afford to put its economy before people

    Eduard Lazarus , Teguh Maulana
    A religious festival has become a super-spreading event. The government knew the risk but didn’t do enough to stop it.
  • 29 Jun 2021
    • Indonesia

    Hobbling Indonesia’s anti-corruption body

    Usman Hamid
    The introduction of a so-called “civics” tests for investigators appear to be a thinly disguised attack on human rights.
  • 28 Jun 2021
    • Public Opinion
    • Australia
    • Australian Public Opinion
    • Indonesia

    Building stronger Australia-Indonesia ties

    Ben Bland
    The latest Lowy Poll shows the gaps in public understanding that bedevils the goal of closer bilateral relations.
  • 7 Jun 2021
    • Indonesia
    • Human rights
    • Technology

    The authoritarian threat of Indonesia’s latest internet bill

    Eduard Lazarus
    Pending legislation would require online service providers to remove or block content by government demand.
  • 2 Jun 2021
    • United Nations
    • Australia
    • Indonesia

    Troubled waters? Australia-Indonesia maritime boundary in the news

    Bec Strating
    It would not be a good example for the region should Canberra and Jakarta be unable to resolve “technical amendments”.
  • 25 May 2021
    • Indonesia
    • Middle East Conflict
    • Israel

    How Gaza occupies Indonesia’s identity wars

    Johannes Nugroho
    Israel-Palestinian issues have long featured in Jakarta’s worldview but with a domestic edge, too.
  • 25 May 2021
    • Diplomacy
    • Indonesia
    • Human rights
    • Papua New Guinea

    PNG can’t turn a blind eye to the conflict next door

    Leanne Jorari
    As popular support for West Papua grows more vocal, PNG officials walk a diplomatic tightrope.
  • 13 May 2021
    • Cyber Security
    • Asean
    • Australia
    • Indonesia
    • Technology

    Indonesia responds to the cyber dark side

    Greta Nabbs-Keller , RM Wibawanto Nugroho Widodo
    Australia will also benefit from practical bilateral cooperation to enhance Indonesia’s cyber security.
  • 12 May 2021
    • Australian Diplomacy
    • Timor-Leste
    • Indonesia
    • Human rights

    Andrew Peacock’s Timor legacy

    Peter Job
    Remembered as a principled defender of human rights, the late foreign minister took a different tack with Suharto.
  • 26 Apr 2021
    • Diplomacy
    • Multilateral Institutions
    • Asean
    • Myanmar
    • Indonesia
    • Southeast Asia
    • Human rights

    Indonesia raises ASEAN’s bar on Myanmar

    Ben Bland
    President Joko Widodo had nothing to gain domestically in calling a special summit. But in not failing, he succeeded.
  • 21 Apr 2021
    • Asean
    • Myanmar
    • Indonesia

    Indonesia gambles on special ASEAN summit on Myanmar

    Johannes Nugroho
    Joko Widodo may have an eye to his legacy by inviting the junta to Jakarta, but it could also cost his prestige.
  • 9 Apr 2021
    • United States
    • International Economy
    • China-Australia Relations
    • Australia's Economy
    • Australian Diplomacy
    • China
    • India
    • Indonesia

    Economic diplomacy: Global tax, education exports and Team Australia

    Greg Earl
    Levelling the field with a global minimum tax, rethinking student fee revenue, and getting APEC back in the room.
  • 22 Feb 2021
    • Indonesia
    • Human rights

    Are Indonesia’s “rubber” laws limiting freedom of speech?

    Jim Nolan
    Jokowi’s call for “improved supervision” of criminal defamation laws won’t lead the media to stop the presses just yet.
  • 2 Feb 2021
    • Indonesia
    • Coronavirus

    Helping Indonesia’s children in a time of pandemic

    Dian Maya Safitri
    The virus might strike adults more, but the effect of Covid-19 is costing kids. A universal child benefit would help.
  • 1 Feb 2021
    • Indonesia
    • Iran

    Why Indonesia seizing an Iranian tanker is purely over domestic law

    Aristyo Rizka Darmawan
    Jakarta’s control over archipelagic waters imposes special rights and responsibilities.
  • 15 Jan 2021
    • Indonesia

    The cleric shell game in Indonesia

    Johannes Nugroho
    Joko Widodo is sending mixed signals about whether he is truly combating religious radicalism.
  • 13 Jan 2021
    • Sustainability
    • Indonesia
    • Energy
    • Southeast Asia

    Indonesia lags on renewable energy, and pays the price

    Diwangkara Bagus Nugraha , Filda Citra Yusgiantoro
    Global companies are looking for clean energy, but Indonesia is failing to keep up with neighbours in the region.
  • 14 Dec 2020
    • Diplomacy
    • Indonesia
    • Australia

    Australia-Indonesia relations need to talk the talk

    Melissa Crouch
    Indonesian language programs in Australian universities – a gateway to cultural connection – are disappearing.
  • 10 Dec 2020
    • China
    • Indonesia

    Indonesia-China cooperation: Standby for take-off

    Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat , Habib Pashya
    For all the obstacles in the relationship, ties between Jakarta and Beijing look set to only continue to grow.
  • 4 Dec 2020
    • Indonesia

    Indonesia’s Omnibus Law won’t kill corruption

    Johannes Nugroho
    The new legislation will shift regional power dynamics, but it can’t eradicate an entrenched culture of kickbacks.
  • 1 Dec 2020
    • Global Economy
    • Trade
    • Asean
    • Indonesia

    What RCEP can tell us about geopolitics in Asia

    Rocky Intan
    China-US rivalry tends to overshadow assessments. But this major accomplishment came with ASEAN at the centre.
  • 20 Nov 2020
    • Indonesia

    Indonesian cleric re-enters the fray

    Erin Cook
    Amid a changed political landscape – and a pandemic – Rizieq Shihab’s return from Saudi Arabia raises much speculation.
  • 19 Nov 2020
    • Indonesia

    A firebrand cleric’s return boosts Islamist politics

    A’an Suryana , Nur Syafiqah Mohd Taufek
    Habib Rizieq Shihab can wield a potent influence, but even those welcoming him home from exile are wary of being burned.
  • 16 Nov 2020
    • Indonesia's Economy
    • Australia
    • Indonesia
    • Coronavirus

    Putting real Australian money on the table to help Indonesia

    Roland Rajah
    An outright loan for A$1.5 billion won’t meet all Indonesia’s needs – but it’s a very welcome start.
  • 5 Nov 2020
    • Diplomacy
    • United Nations
    • Indonesia
    • Russia
    • Human rights
    • Sex and Gender

    A backlash against the Women, Peace and Security agenda?

    Jacqui True , Irine Hiraswari Gayatri , Nuri Widiastuti Veronika , Patricia Salas Sanchez
    Power politics overshadow progress at the UN Security Council as Resolution 1325 celebrates its 20th anniversary.
  • 20 Oct 2020
    • Indonesia

    Prabowo redeemed in Washington’s eyes amid US-China rivalry

    Aristyo Rizka Darmawan
    Back on his feet, Indonesia’s Defence Minister is still performing a balancing act.
  • 16 Oct 2020
    • Pacific Islands
    • Melanesia
    • Indonesia
    • Vanuatu

    Keeping West Papua on the agenda

    Dan McGarry
    During Covid, the independence campaign could have been forgotten. But a new generation of activists is forging ahead.
  • 17 Sep 2020
    • Indonesia's Economy
    • Indonesia
    • Coronavirus

    Covid-19 and Indonesian monetary policy

    Stephen Grenville , Roland Rajah
    Funding the deficit is a necessary short-term measure, but “free money” can lead down a dangerous path.
  • 11 Sep 2020
    • Indonesia

    Indonesia – a country of disappointments

    John West
    Ben Bland shows even pessimists can be gulled by Joko Widodo’s charms.
  • 2 Sep 2020
    • Indonesia

    The (un)making of Joko Widodo

    Nava Nuraniyah
    Ben Bland examines the tension in Indonesia of a democratic transition with authoritarian spoilers still in place.
  • 28 Aug 2020
    • South China Sea
    • China
    • Indonesia

    Jakarta should be wary of Beijing’s South China Sea proposals

    Aristyo Rizka Darmawan
    “Joint development” is a misnomer when China has no legal stake in what is Indonesian territory.
  • 26 Aug 2020
    • The Americas
    • Diplomacy
    • Australia
    • Indonesia
    • South Korea
    • Türkiye

    Where next for MIKTA?

    Jeffrey Robertson
    Tacking the problems created by Covid-19 appear to be beyond this particular example of middle-power activism.
  • 21 Aug 2020
    • United States
    • Indonesia
    • Review

    Book Review: The deadly legacy of the Cold War in the modern world

    John West
    The anti-communist purge in Indonesia in the 1960s is retold in a compelling examination of US Cold War policy.
  • 16 Jul 2020
    • Indonesia

    The elusive pragmatist who transformed political Islam in Indonesia

    Quinton Temby
    Hilmi Aminuddin had a central, if rarely seen, place in polarising arguments over the role of Islam in the state.
  • 6 Jul 2020
    • Trade
    • Australia
    • Indonesia

    Indonesia: Still caught between trade and protectionism

    Ben Bland
    There is little evidence Jokowi sees trade deals as a way to drive liberalising domestic economic reforms at home.
  • 3 Jul 2020
    • Australia in the World
    • Defence & Security
    • Indonesia

    Australia’s Strategic Update: What it means for Indonesia

    Greta Nabbs-Keller
    Jakarta’s response is likely to be complex and will require deft management by Australian policymakers.
  • 3 Jul 2020
    • Australia
    • Myanmar
    • Cambodia
    • Indonesia
    • Thailand
    • Vietnam
    • Philippines
    • Southeast Asia
    • Coronavirus
    • Human rights

    Southeast Asian democracies in declining health amid Covid-19

    Melissa Crouch
    An illiberal turn across the region has been exacerbated by the pandemic. Australia should take note.
  • 25 Jun 2020
    • Indonesia

    The long wait in Indonesia for a female chief justice in a top court

    Cate Sumner , Leisha Lister
    Indonesia lags in appointing women to key judicial posts and the gender gap in the region is closing at a glacial pace.
  • 1 Jun 2020
    • Indonesia
    • Coronavirus

    Going local: Lessons from Covid response in Indonesia

    Jess Lees , Jesse McCommon , Puji Pujiono
    After recent disasters, policy changes shifted the model of humanitarian aid. The Covid crisis put it to the test.
  • 20 May 2020
    • Pacific Islands
    • Australia
    • Indonesia
    • Human rights

    West Papua: Looking for an opening

    Johnny Blades
    Allowing more access would be an important first step to ending human rights abuses in the troubled Indonesian province.
  • 19 May 2020
    • Defence & Security
    • South China Sea
    • Indonesia

    As Jakarta trims defence, Beijing makes waves in the South China Sea

    Aristyo Rizka Darmawan
    Covid-19 has seen Southeast Asian countries cut defence budgets just as maritime threats look to be growing dire.
  • 8 May 2020
    • Indonesia
    • Coronavirus

    Indonesia’s democracy is flawed, but do enough people care?

    Fadhilah Fitri Primandari
    Covid-19 puts healthcare and the economy at the top of the agenda, although poor governance is making matters worse.
  • 15 Apr 2020
    • Indonesia's Economy
    • Australia
    • Indonesia
    • Coronavirus

    Australia should offer Indonesia crisis insurance ­– quickly

    Roland Rajah
    With little to no cost at home, a multi-billion “standby” loan will help restore economic confidence in a big neighbour.
  • 8 Apr 2020
    • Indonesia
    • Coronavirus

    Indonesia: A health and economic crisis also threatens national unity

    Bradley Wood
    Jokowi fears his legitimacy and hold on power may be at risk with provinces defying the central government’s authority.
  • 2 Apr 2020
    • Indonesia
    • Coronavirus

    Covid-19: Jokowi must win back his people’s trust after early missteps

    Fadhilah Fitri Primandari
    This is a fight for the long haul, but it can only be won if Indonesians have faith in their government.
  • 30 Mar 2020
    • Indonesia
    • Coronavirus

    Indonesia: The rally of a community facing a coronavirus threat

    Aisyah Llewellyn
    A pluck of courage, the brashness of youth, and a little ingenuity – when authorities are slow to act, people step up.
  • 27 Mar 2020
    • Indonesia
    • Southeast Asia
    • Coronavirus

    COVIDcast Episode 4: Crisis looms in Southeast Asia

    Michael Fullilove , Ben Bland
    The latest episode in a podcast to discuss the implications of coronavirus for Australia, the region, and the world.
  • 24 Mar 2020
    • Indonesia

    Covid-19: Indonesia’s crises can severely reverberate on neighbours

    Greta Nabbs-Keller
    Weakness in government coordination and communication will constrain flexibility to deal with this complex challenge.
  • 17 Mar 2020
    • Indonesia
    • Coronavirus

    Indonesia: Covid-19 crisis reveals cracks in Jokowi’s ad hoc politics

    Ben Bland
    The world’s fourth most-populous country has a long way to go to get a grip on this challenge, its president especially.
  • 26 Feb 2020
    • Indonesia

    Maluku: Obscure and notorious

    Robin Perry
    A remote corner of Indonesia has a distinctive place in history going back centuries.
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