President Prabowo Subianto’s attendance at the parade in Beijing signals awareness that the world is shifting to a multipolar order, and that Indonesia is navigating its positioning amid uncertain currents.

The arrests of activists, the influence of algorithms and the surge of public frustration reveal how social media is actively fueling Indonesia’s ongoing democratic reckoning.

The Giant Sea Wall project shows confusion in policy, poor problem diagnosis and the risk of spending billions on the wrong solution.

The most recent cabinet reshuffle constitutes not only a cabinet refresh, but also a reflection of the consolidation of power and a test of confidence among the market and the public.  

As nationwide protests have subsided, a new power struggle has emerged among Indonesia's political elite, centering on who was behind the widespread unrest last week.

After seeing online videos showing the interior of her home being vandalized with her hand-drawn painting being damaged in the incident, many certainly expected that it would be difficult for Sri Mulyani to return to her job the next day.

New technological systems do not protect human rights by default.

Beijing’s military parade came amid closer coordination with Russia and North Korea, and against a backdrop of intensifying Sino-American rivalry.

Air pollution erodes competitiveness, undermines education when haze shuts schools and weakens human capital by imposing lifelong health burdens.

Pent-up frustrations due to House’s failure to represent citizen interests erupted into large scale demonstrations.

Unless adequate measures are taken to address the problem, people will again take to the streets demanding bold changes in the government’s policies. 

Indonesia experiences cartelization due to the president's promiscuous power-sharing, elite collusion to secure state access and the weakening of meaningful opposition. 

The Patriot Bonds, a debt instrument issued through Indonesia’s state asset fund Danantara, have attracted demand exceeding the amount offered, despite offering a much lower coupon rate than comparable government securities. Some analysts point to quiet pressure from the Prabowo Subianto administration as a factor in the oversubscription, raising concerns that the bond’s “voluntary participation” label masks market distortion and risks crowding out private financing.

The President should consult with his aides before striking a deal with a foreign leader or institution. 

Prior to his appearance with Putin at last week's Victory Day event, Xi signaled a new chapter in Beijing's energy diplomacy by signing a bilateral agreement on a new pipeline in defiance of Washington's attempt to isolate Moscow, setting the stage for sharper tensions in the China-US great power rivalry.

Though the recent protests evoked a darker chapter in the nation’s history, they also mark a departure, and the question is whether the state response will, too.

The wave of demonstrations that began over legislators' pay and perks expanded during its second week into a collective civil movement, bringing together women, workers, students and LGBTIQ+ to fight on the front lines for their right to engage in political life for a democracy in which they are seen, heard and accepted.

Comprehensive reform of the legislature guided by the principle of transparency, with an overarching aim to break the link between wealth and policymaking, is key to restoring the spirit of public service and welfare and regaining the people’s trust.

The seeming success of the government’s repressive tactics, by granting the police and military freedom to use force during recent massive rallies, will likely embolden President Prabowo Subianto.

While the burden sharing scheme was an apt instrument during the COVID-19 pandemic, it now risks becoming a fiscal dominance policy, blurring the line between fiscal and monetary policy, accelerating depreciation, eroding market trust and undermining the central bank's independence.

The deployment of the Indonesian Military (TNI) to crack down on massive nationwide protests, some of which descended into violence, around the turn of the month may have helped restore order. President Prabowo Subianto, for one, felt comfortable enough about the situation in the country for him to make a quick trip to Beijing.

It would be tempting to interpret the excessive increase in lawmakers’ housing allowance as the final straw that broke the camel’s back.

The "mamas" of the Arfak Mountains are not merely housewives; they are the hardworking breadwinners who determine the course of life for their community.

Decision-making requires framing the problem correctly, surveying the terrain, updating data and information sources accordingly and settling on a model to evaluate competing choices.

With its low price, intense effects and highly addictive nature, yaba is one of the most commonly abused stimulants in Southeast Asia, and its spread shows no sign of slowing.

When power is exercised without public oversight, the risk of abuse and inequality increases.

There are parties who are deploying state-sponsored influencers and cybertroops to spread disinformation and could delegitimize the 17+8 movement.