ARTICLES

9 Jun 2020

Indonesian Muslim Groups Grapple with the “New Normal”

Syafiq Hasyim

Muslim groups, which were generally in favour of the government’s partial lockdown earlier on in the Covid-19 pandemic, are now taking up a less sanguine position.

27 May 2020

Indonesia’s Islamist Groups: The Logic of Strategic Silence

Made Supriatma

Indonesia’s Islamist groups have not hit back at President Jokowi for his handling of the current Covid-19 pandemic. There are several reasons for their strategic silence.

COVID-19 Indonesia Indonesian Politics

9 Apr 2020

Covid-19: In the Doldrums of Debt

Malcolm Cook

Thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, many Southeast Asian countries, several of which are already forecast to careen into recession this year, will see themselves in hock.

Cambodia COVID-19 Indonesia Laos

3 Apr 2020

Covid-19 and Indonesia: Not Quite a Lockdown

Siwage Dharma Negara

Jakarta has studied the examples of Malaysia and India and decided not to implement a full lockdown amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The social and economic costs are deemed to be too high.

COVID-19 Indonesia

31 Mar 2020

Fighting Covid-19 in Indonesia: The Nexus of Religion and the State

Syafiq Hasyim

The positions taken by some Islamic groups on the national policy of social distancing will determine the success – or failure – of the policy.

COVID-19 Indonesia Religion

7 Mar 2019

Nahdlatul Ulama and the Framing of an Ideological Battle in the 2019 Indonesian Elections

Ahmad Najib Burhani

Indonesia's 2019 presidential elections have turned into a proxy battle between two different ideological leanings. Anti-caliphate and moderate Islamist groups backing Joko Widodo have arrayed themselves against pro-caliphate groups backing Prabowo.

Indonesia Indonesian Politics Islamist Groups

21 Dec 2018

Ma’ruf Amin: A Shield from Identity Politics, but not a Vote-getter?

Ahmad Najib Burhani

Ma'ruf Amin, Joko Wido's choice of running mate for the presidential election in April next year, was chosen mainly to “shield” the Presdient from the attacks utilising the politics of identity and religion. However, Jokowi's camp needs to lower their expectations for Ma'ruf Amin as a vote-getter as he lacks appeal among young voters.

Identity Politics Indonesia

19 Jan 2017

Beyond Jakarta: Indonesian Regions Resisting Muslim Hardliners

Deasy Simandjuntak

The rising trend of religious intolerance and hard-line ideologies, is being challenged across Indonesia. The central government must take the lead in dealing with such attitudes so that local authorities can follow suit.

Indonesia Pancasila Religious Intolerance

12 Jan 2017

“Islamization of Politics” in Indonesia and Malaysia?

Leo Suryadinata

Recent political developments in Indonesia and Malaysia have seen the use of Islam in determining the political processes – Islam was employed to weaken the ruling elite, or to maintain political power and to support a forthcoming election. Such tactics may inadvertently destroy the pluralistic nature of both societies.

Indonesia Malaysia radicalism Religious Intolerance

10 May 2016

Duterte, Jokowi and ASEAN

Malcolm Cook

The political ascensions of Jokowi and Duterte is a significant challenge to ASEAN unity and centrality. As political outsiders with minimal international experience, their foreign policies are nationalistic and unilateral - focusing more on supporting the administration's domestic infrastructure and nation-building agenda.

ASEAN ASEAN Unity Indonesia Philippine