14 Dec 2020
Australia-Indonesia relations need to talk the talk
Indonesian language programs in Australian universities – a gateway to cultural connection – are disappearing.
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10 Dec 2020
Indonesia-China cooperation: Standby for take-off
For all the obstacles in the relationship, ties between Jakarta and Beijing look set to only continue to grow. -
4 Dec 2020
Indonesia’s Omnibus Law won’t kill corruption
The new legislation will shift regional power dynamics, but it can’t eradicate an entrenched culture of kickbacks. -
1 Dec 2020
What RCEP can tell us about geopolitics in Asia
China-US rivalry tends to overshadow assessments. But this major accomplishment came with ASEAN at the centre. -
20 Nov 2020
Indonesian cleric re-enters the fray
Amid a changed political landscape – and a pandemic – Rizieq Shihab’s return from Saudi Arabia raises much speculation. -
19 Nov 2020
A firebrand cleric’s return boosts Islamist politics
Habib Rizieq Shihab can wield a potent influence, but even those welcoming him home from exile are wary of being burned. -
16 Nov 2020
Putting real Australian money on the table to help Indonesia
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
A backlash against the Women, Peace and Security agenda?
Power politics overshadow progress at the UN Security Council as Resolution 1325 celebrates its 20th anniversary. -
20 Oct 2020
Prabowo redeemed in Washington’s eyes amid US-China rivalry
Back on his feet, Indonesia’s Defence Minister is still performing a balancing act. -
16 Oct 2020
Keeping West Papua on the agenda
During Covid, the independence campaign could have been forgotten. But a new generation of activists is forging ahead. -
17 Sep 2020
Covid-19 and Indonesian monetary policy
Funding the deficit is a necessary short-term measure, but “free money” can lead down a dangerous path. -
11 Sep 2020
Indonesia – a country of disappointments
Ben Bland shows even pessimists can be gulled by Joko Widodo’s charms. -
2 Sep 2020
The (un)making of Joko Widodo
Ben Bland examines the tension in Indonesia of a democratic transition with authoritarian spoilers still in place. -
28 Aug 2020
Jakarta should be wary of Beijing’s South China Sea proposals
“Joint development” is a misnomer when China has no legal stake in what is Indonesian territory. -
26 Aug 2020
Where next for MIKTA?
Tacking the problems created by Covid-19 appear to be beyond this particular example of middle-power activism. -
21 Aug 2020
Book Review: The deadly legacy of the Cold War in the modern world
The anti-communist purge in Indonesia in the 1960s is retold in a compelling examination of US Cold War policy. -
16 Jul 2020
The elusive pragmatist who transformed political Islam in Indonesia
Hilmi Aminuddin had a central, if rarely seen, place in polarising arguments over the role of Islam in the state. -
6 Jul 2020
Indonesia: Still caught between trade and protectionism
There is little evidence Jokowi sees trade deals as a way to drive liberalising domestic economic reforms at home. -
3 Jul 2020
Australia’s Strategic Update: What it means for Indonesia
Jakarta’s response is likely to be complex and will require deft management by Australian policymakers. -
3 Jul 2020
Southeast Asian democracies in declining health amid Covid-19
An illiberal turn across the region has been exacerbated by the pandemic. Australia should take note. -
25 Jun 2020
The long wait in Indonesia for a female chief justice in a top court
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
Going local: Lessons from Covid response in Indonesia
After recent disasters, policy changes shifted the model of humanitarian aid. The Covid crisis put it to the test. -
20 May 2020
West Papua: Looking for an opening
Allowing more access would be an important first step to ending human rights abuses in the troubled Indonesian province. -
19 May 2020
As Jakarta trims defence, Beijing makes waves in the South China Sea
Covid-19 has seen Southeast Asian countries cut defence budgets just as maritime threats look to be growing dire. -
8 May 2020
Indonesia’s democracy is flawed, but do enough people care?
Covid-19 puts healthcare and the economy at the top of the agenda, although poor governance is making matters worse. -
15 Apr 2020
Australia should offer Indonesia crisis insurance – quickly
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: A health and economic crisis also threatens national unity
Jokowi fears his legitimacy and hold on power may be at risk with provinces defying the central government’s authority. -
2 Apr 2020
Covid-19: Jokowi must win back his people’s trust after early missteps
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: The rally of a community facing a coronavirus threat
A pluck of courage, the brashness of youth, and a little ingenuity – when authorities are slow to act, people step up. -
27 Mar 2020
COVIDcast Episode 4: Crisis looms in Southeast Asia
The latest episode in a podcast to discuss the implications of coronavirus for Australia, the region, and the world. -
24 Mar 2020
Covid-19: Indonesia’s crises can severely reverberate on neighbours
Weakness in government coordination and communication will constrain flexibility to deal with this complex challenge. -
17 Mar 2020
Indonesia: Covid-19 crisis reveals cracks in Jokowi’s ad hoc politics
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
Maluku: Obscure and notorious
A remote corner of Indonesia has a distinctive place in history going back centuries. -
18 Feb 2020
Jokowi’s speech to the Australian parliament: an ode to friendship
Much more than only trade and investment, the Indonesian President has grander ambitions for the two neighbours. -
13 Feb 2020
Economic diplomacy: Indonesian trade deals and real deals
“Boats, beef, and Bali” seem bad words no more, and Jokowi and Morrison set out to strike a new tone. -
11 Feb 2020
Australia-Indonesia: Building trust
After lurching from crisis to crisis, the two countries can forge a shared interest in keeping a steady relationship. -
11 Feb 2020
Jokowi’s Canberra trip: A step ahead on a long road
The Indonesian president’s visit demonstrated the two countries’ progress together, as well as gaps that remain. -
10 Feb 2020
Five urgent issues for Indonesia’s president
Joko Widodo’s Australian visit is an opportunity to call out the worsening human rights situation in Indonesia. -
7 Feb 2020
Australia-Indonesia: An uncertain world makes for firm friends
Both countries have more and more in common, a fact which should challenge old tropes about difference. -
3 Feb 2020
Indonesia: The not so good news
Indonesia is becoming a wealthy nation, but still has an enormous number of very poor people, who are not doing well. -
10 Jan 2020
Jakarta is flooding and its governor is sinking
Despite promising new policies, the city’s new leader faces the same problems as the last, and few options. -
9 Jan 2020
Can Indonesia lead? Maritime tensions with China escalate
Natuna Islands in the South China Sea has flared again, with Jakarta giving every indication it’s not for backing down. -
12 Dec 2019
Strength in numbers in the eastern Indian Ocean
India has compelling reasons to expand its presence in east waters – and Australia has broader reasons to help. -
19 Nov 2019
Jokowi’s curious plan for Indonesia’s capital
The Indonesian president’s scheme to move the capital won’t fix Jakarta – or the government. -
29 Oct 2019
With a UN Human Rights Council seat, Indonesia has a choice
Jakarta could put human rights at the centre of its foreign policy, as well as clean up its act at home. -
25 Oct 2019
Indonesia’s new cabinet and its human rights implications
Jokowi’s appointments will be rightly questioned: is he interested in human rights or the rights of the Indonesian army? -
24 Oct 2019
Economic diplomacy: Indonesia trade, ASIO business & deglobalisation
Balancing national security and national prosperity – a range of views and the call for a range of resources. -
15 Oct 2019
The Wiranto attack and the ISIS impact
With events in the Middle East as a constant goad, people such as Syahrial Alamsyah will find excuses for violence. -
2 Oct 2019
Violence in Papua could get worse
A province now awash in cash has spurred a migrant influx and given new sources of income to the independence movement. -
30 Sep 2019
Book review: Common enemies
A look at law-enforcement cooperation between Australia and Indonesia will interest experts and curious observers alike.