SOEs are often defended rhetorically as a counterweight to large, ethnic-Chinese-owned conglomerates, the “taipan”. 

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named former religious affairs minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas a suspect in connection with alleged graft in the administration of the haj pilgrimage in 2024.

The Grok controversy shows that Indonesia’s regulatory architecture for digital technology is still catching up with reality.

India’s foreign policy is guided by the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The World Is One Family), which prioritizes strong, mutually beneficial ties with immediate neighbors through cooperation.

The Asian model of infrastructure financing and development blends both public and private players in a layered, nuanced and more flexible system.

The decline of multilateralism presents an opportunity for Global South countries to step up and engage actively in reshaping the world order.

Meeting the nutritional needs of a growing population requires not just a radical increase in food production but also a more equitable distribution to ensure that no one is food-insecure.

Effective control over AI systems cannot be achieved without shared norms, shared responsibilities and shared enforcement mechanisms.

If the world order is indeed akin to a multiplex, then Indonesia needs to adopt compartmentalization as our foreign policy stance.

President Prabowo Subianto’s plan to give more power to the Indonesian Military (TNI) to counter terrorism raises the specter of Indonesia reverting to the days when the military practically ruled the country under President Soeharto for more than three decades.

It is not too far a stretch of our collective imagination to deduce that antidemocratic forces have continued to whittle away at the hard-won gains of the Indonesian people, when nearly three decades since the precipitous events that led to massive sociopolitical reform, those who have benefited from direct elections are now seeking retrogression.

Amid the resurgence of global power politics, Indonesia must continue to wield its unique geopolitical legitimacy, conferred by its geography, in pressing for the consistency of maritime norms in the South China Sea.

The NAM failed not because its premise was wrong, but because it lacked economic integration, technological depth and institutional discipline. 

Radicalization has evolved today from an issue of ideology to one of morals, offering answers and guidance to disenfranchised youths that are constantly exposed to volumes of decontextualized information online.

The dilemma tech firms and regulators face with regard to the recent furor over sexualized AI-generated images is the same, long-standing one that has vexed the globe whenever availability has preceded regulation.

The change in Indonesia's foreign policy from its long-standing "free and active" doctrine to resilience signals a paradigm shift in the country's worldview amid the current global leaning toward hegemonic power.

Indirect regional elections will disproportionately expand the legislature's power while drastically reducing public participation, effectively shifting the fundamental principle of popular sovereignty.

The quality of Indonesia’s lawmaking is under growing scrutiny. The skyrocketing number of judicial review petitions should serve as a wake-up call to reform the legislative process. Meaningful public participation, in particular, remains a crucial element that must be strengthened to ensure laws are drafted with prudence, accountability and constitutional soundness.

The minister has laid out his mission. What is lacking here is what concrete actions Sugiono will take and will continue to pursue to realize the ambition?

Contrary to the freedom of speech narrative espoused by tech moguls and the US leader, the coming battle centered on the "slopification" of public discourse pits free thinkers and societies against power-hungry plutocrats and wannabe autocrats.

Safeguarding rights must be a priority for sustainable development, yet it often takes public outrage to force a change. 

It is time to strengthen national mechanisms for accountability and transparency to monitor responsible business conduct under the IEU-CEPA.

More partnerships and collaborations should be formed between academic institutions in Indonesia and the region, focusing on the prevalence, economics and health impacts of alternative tobacco products use.

The implementation of KUHP and KUHAP risks reframing complex issues of health, protection and recovery as matters of moral compliance, rather than rights, evidence and public health.

By privileging access to the junta while sidelining other stakeholders, ASEAN risks reinforcing the military’s claim that it alone represents Myanmar’s political future.

The 2026 provincial minimum wage (UMP) announcements have triggered a backlash from both labor unions and businesses. On average, minimum wages rose by more than 5 percent year-on-year (yoy) compared with 2025. However, in most provinces, the final nominal wages remain below the basic cost of living (KHL), indicating a decline in real wages. This tension unfolds amid an economic slowdown, marked by persistent layoffs in labor-intensive sectors and weak household consumption.

A comprehensive climate adaptation plan aiming at long term mitigations against extreme weather should be prepared.