Indonesia
Why Indonesia’s engagement with Pacific countries matters
Last week, Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi wrapped up a brief official visit to Fiji and Solomon Islands. On her agenda, apart from the usual high-level bilateral…
Twenty years after Bali
Over summer in Australia we’re featuring selected articles from the past year. This was originally published 14 September 2022.
The horrified reaction of many Australians…
Indonesia’s criminal code a step backwards, not forwards
After two years of pandemic killjoy, Indonesia’s Independence Day celebrations last month had a festive feel. During a ceremony at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, the public was…
Blue economy may be the key to South Asia's upswing
For decades, traditional and non-traditional threats in South Asia have found their footing in shifting geopolitical patterns. The Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the recent Sri…
Fashionistas take to the streets of Indonesia
Citayam Fashion Week, a term that loosely refers to the spontaneous, outdoor gatherings of Indonesian youths in which they perform al fresco fashion shows, has caught the…
Does ASEAN really need an official “second language”?
The idea of an “official language” for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been a contentious subject over the years. Recently, the issue has resurfaced.
In…
Becoming a republic will improve Australia’s image in Asia
Almost three years after his address to the Australian Republic Movement (ARM) dinner in November 2019, Anthony Albanese, then leader of the opposition and now prime minister, has…
Jokowi adopts a statesman style
When Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo first came to office in 2014, many pundits had doubts about his capacity for foreign policy, especially when compared to his…
The Indonesia Investment Authority: Jokowi’s trouble-shooter?
Since President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) entered office in 2014, his priority has been infrastructure construction, with his re-election in 2019 partly due to the government’s…
Years of living statelessly: refugees in Indonesia
Nazanin Ali walked stylishly in the Westin Hotel Jakarta lounge. Wearing a black hat and collared shirt, she exhibited the “Makaila Haifa” brand of clothing to the invited guests…