Indonesia’s free meals programme is not reaching the direst areas of need. For that to happen, the policy needs to be redesigned.
Author Archives: blackbox
A Double-Edged Sword: Prabowo’s Shrinking Circle of Trust
There are clear limits to any leadership style. Indonesia’s president may be running up against a hard one soon.
A Green-Water Testbed: Vietnam’s New Multi-Role Frigate
Vietnam is building a new multi-role anti-submarine frigate. This underscores Hanoi’s maritime-oriented continental strategy, where a focus on land defence is coupled to a growing recognition of the importance of the sea.
The Philippines Needs an Air Power Strategy, Not Just New Fighters
As the Philippine Air Force seeks to modernise its fleet, it should start by mapping out the appropriate air strategy first
Southeast Asia Holds the Key to Nature-Positive Palm Oil
A nature-positive approach to agriculture, and specifically palm oil plantations, can marry mandates with production.
Vietnam’s Hidden Development Lesson: Markets Came Before Reform
Vietnam’s current success has a deeper explanation most might miss.
The Indonesia-US Agreement on Reciprocal Trade: Three Views on its Economic and Strategic Impacts
The Indonesia-US Agreement on Reciprocal Trade was signed on 19 February 2026 but has yet to be ratified by Indonesia. In this Long Read, three experts from the government and from academia share their views on the potential impacts of the agreement on Indonesia’s economy, trade relations, domestic policy, and reform direction.
Rethinking Flood Protection Through a ‘No-Regret’ Lens
Governments in our region and beyond must plan today for tomorrow’s floods, in a warming world. Regret can be minimised, if not eliminated.
The “Karenni Model”: Wartime Governance in Contested Territory
The Karenni governance experience in Myanmar explains how wartime governance emerges and is sustained under intensified conflict, fragmented political orders, and uneven international engagement. But this requires continued efforts to maintain minimum levels of territorial security and de-escalate conflict.
Indonesia’s Green Industrialisation Plans Have a Brown Problem
Indonesia has managed to surpass targets for renewable energy. The problem, however, is that green sources of energy continue to exist with their brown counterparts.