‘Gangster’ Politics? Examining Protest, Power, and Poverty in Indonesia
Published
Fulcrum editor and Coordinator, Indonesia Studies Programme, Julia Lau speaks to Dr Ian Wilson about power, politics, and popular culture, including the phenomenon of 'preman' in today's Indonesia.
Fulcrum editor and Coordinator, Indonesia Studies Programme, Julia Lau speaks to Dr Ian Wilson about power, politics, and popular culture, including the phenomenon of ‘preman’ in today’s Indonesia.
Dialogues at Fulcrum is a podcast published by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. For quick reference, the themes below were discussed:
1:35 – Unpacking the causes of the violent protests in Indonesia in August 2025
9:00 – Prevalence of Preman (‘Gangster’) politics in Indonesia today
17:56 – Contrasting contemporary Indonesian politics with New Order politics
27:50 – Popular culture (‘One Piece’) and the evolution of protests and resistance in Indonesia’s networked society
33:18 – The trajectory of Indonesian democracy
38:40 – Implications of inadequate efforts to address urban poverty in Indonesia
46:20 – Ian Wilson’s academic journey and tips for aspiring young scholars
Ian Wilson was a Visiting Fellow at ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute. He is Senior Lecturer, Politics & International Studies, Principal Fellow, Indo-Pacific Research Centre. Associate Dean Research, School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, at Murdoch University.
