20 Jan 2023
How an Australian freed an unfinished nation’s history
The fascinating story of how Indonesia came to better know itself through a time of repressive regimes.
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6 Jan 2023
Twenty years after Bali
Indonesia’s police, military and prisons were altered by the 2002 attack. Democratic backsliding may signal an undoing. -
29 Dec 2022
Pop culture politics: How to Interpret 2022
“Soft power” or reputation risk, the cross-over of popular entertainment and global politics is never far from the news. -
20 Dec 2022
To unchain Indonesia’s commodity reliance
Riches from minerals and agriculture resources are yet to transform the local economy. Wider reforms should be the goal. -
5 Dec 2022
Islands of opportunity: Australia and India’s chance to collaborate
The Indian Ocean region is too large for any one country to manage but cooperation on island territories would help. -
29 Nov 2022
Getting the narrative right: China’s media reach in Indonesia
Beijing is weaving its story into hearts and minds in the region via influence campaigns that could impact democracy. -
17 Nov 2022
Economic diplomacy: Charging up old ties with Jakarta
Australia has stepped up a trade diversification push despite the first moves towards reconciliation with China. -
17 Nov 2022
The city that throbs with fury
Six weeks on from a shocking stadium disaster, mourning signs in Malang tell an angry message for Indonesian politics. -
15 Nov 2022
Putting food at the heart of China-Indonesia relations
Beijing sees Indonesia as a major contributor to its food security and this has found receptive ears in Jakarta. -
3 Nov 2022
Ashmore Reef resurfaces as a maritime headache
A loose arrangement between Australia and Indonesia over the uninhabited islands is set to become a little less loose. -
2 Nov 2022
Australia must help turn back a regional democratic retreat
With only half the Indo-Pacific a democracy, a collective approach is needed to bolster critical institutions. -
31 Oct 2022
From Jakarta to Nusantara: making sense of Indonesia’s capital shift
Beyond escaping floods and crowds, the location of the new capital will have economic and geopolitical ramifications. -
10 Oct 2022
Sustainable catch: better Indonesia-Australia cooperation on fishing
A new agreement is a chance to address the core problems of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. -
5 Oct 2022
A free trade zone for Timor-Leste and Indonesia
Regional stability, economic resilience and mutual prosperity – what’s not to like about a cross-border FTZ? -
21 Sep 2022
Making sense of Indonesia’s fuel riots
Cutting subsidies is a step in the right direction, but a more robust social safety net is ultimately a better fix. -
21 Sep 2022
Economic diplomacy: Womenomics shifts from Tokyo to Jakarta
Can a female finance minister in Indonesia avoid the demographic dilemma that has handicapped Japan’s evolution? -
14 Sep 2022
Bali 2002: When global terrorism first came close to home
An extraordinary consular response followed the deadly attack – lessons of crisis that would become all too familiar. -
13 Sep 2022
Why Indonesia’s engagement with Pacific countries matters
Sovereignty, trust and mutual benefit are all at stake when so many regions come together under the Indo-Pacific banner. -
31 Aug 2022
Indonesia’s criminal code a step backwards, not forwards
Ratifying this deeply unpopular legislation would see the Jokowi administration attempting to placate political Islam. -
22 Aug 2022
Blue economy may be the key to South Asia's upswing
Why governance, blue bonds and women are critical to a thriving ocean-based economy. -
17 Aug 2022
Fashionistas take to the streets of Indonesia
Jakarta’s lack of civic green spaces sets the scene for Citayam Fashion Week – a couture protest of sorts. -
4 Aug 2022
Does ASEAN really need an official “second language”?
Privileging one voice over another in Southeast Asia would be a mistake. -
27 Jul 2022
The Indonesia Investment Authority: Jokowi’s trouble-shooter?
Jakarta’s sovereign wealth fund offers investors an attractive way into the country’s booming infrastructure sector. -
26 Jul 2022
Becoming a republic will improve Australia’s image in Asia
Does the Queen of Australia still exist? It’s a surprise to many, even in diplomatic circles. -
25 Jul 2022
Jokowi adopts a statesman style
As G20 host, Indonesia’s president is on a drive to burnish his international credentials and win kudos at home. -
28 Jun 2022
Years of living statelessly: refugees in Indonesia
In a country that is still not party to the refugee convention, life can oscillate between hope and despair. -
27 Jun 2022
Indonesia-Australia climate change cooperation begins with the ocean
Mangroves, reefs and fish stocks – the building blocks of stronger approach by both countries to address global warming. -
14 Jun 2022
Hyundai takes the driver’s seat in Indonesia’s EV market
With net zero emissions targets looming, Southeast Asia’s biggest car market is setting the pace on electric vehicles. -
7 Jun 2022
Wong’s Bahasa pitch to Indonesia
Australia will benefit by drawing more of its multicultural character into senior diplomacy. -
2 Jun 2022
Economic diplomacy: New Labor ministers are facing up to old issues
Reshaping policies on the Pacific, Indonesia and domestic manufacturing is already revealing a changing of the guard. -
12 May 2022
A flash in the pan? Indonesia’s palm oil export ban
Apparent domestic shortages appear more a case of a government stand-off with industry over pricing. -
28 Apr 2022
What is at stake with new provinces in West Papua?
Jakarta’s plan to break West Papua into five provinces from the existing two leaves an even larger military footprint. -
11 Apr 2022
Can Shah Rukh Khan help India “Act East”?
Bollywood has star power, even in Indonesia, as the Lowy Poll revealed. It’s time to capitalise on the connection. -
6 Apr 2022
Democracy or dynasty? Megawati delivers Jokowi a clip
Talk of extending the Indonesian president’s tenure has earned a revealing rebuke from his political patron. -
25 Mar 2022
Stiffening the ASEAN spine in the South China Sea
Any “minilateral” grouping among Southeast Asian nations must be mindful of its internal contradictions. -
7 Mar 2022
Reading Southeast Asia on Ukraine
Russia’s invasion has unified the West with new clarity, yet exposed ambiguity and uncertainty in Southeast Asia. -
21 Feb 2022
Courting change for Indonesia’s invisible brides
The country’s marriage statistics obscure a significant rise in unregistered unions involving children and adolescents. -
15 Feb 2022
Indonesia makes a big defence statement
Canberra should look beyond the Quad and to its own backyard for an all-weather strategic friend. -
26 Jan 2022
Indonesia standing between great powers
Non-alignment has long defined Jakarta’s approach in the world. Neither China’s threats or US pledges will change that. -
24 Jan 2022
Could minilateralism work in the South China Sea?
Jakarta’s ambitions for a maritime alliance with its ASEAN neighbours is the right response to intimidation from China. -
18 Jan 2022
Australia has a solution to Indonesia’s soaring food prices
As Indonesia takes the G20 presidency solving the country’s food security crisis should be top of the agenda. -
23 Nov 2021
Regulating unmanned underwater vehicles in Indonesian waters
Deep sea drones are revolutionising marine science. But the military potential makes transparency essential. -
19 Nov 2021
The true challenge to Indonesia’s large informal economy
The President’s promise to empower women’s enterprises will mean little unless the scourge of corruption is also curbed. -
10 Nov 2021
Australia-Indonesia: burn the boats
Protecting ocean resources can sometimes require extreme measures from which there is no way back. -
8 Nov 2021
Indonesia-Australia: Deeper divide lies beneath AUKUS submarine rift
Indonesia is committed to “standing in the middle” between the United States and China and using ASEAN as a buffer. -
20 Oct 2021
Australia, Indonesia and climate change
As the immediate pandemic crisis begins to recede, both countries should refocus the relationship on climate change. -
12 Oct 2021
Australia should donate surplus vaccine to Indonesia
Helping a neighbour in need is far from mere charity but will protect Australia, too. -
30 Sep 2021
Indonesia: painted politics
A street art controversy shows government sensitivity over its Covid-19 response. It’s unlikely to be the last. -
29 Sep 2021
AUKUS + Indonesia
Side-stepping any alignment with super powers allows Indonesia to reap the benefits of the new trilateral agreement. -
14 Sep 2021
Diagnosing Indonesia’s health challenges
The sickness in the country’s health system was apparent long before the pandemic. Covid only makes reforms more urgent.