The arms game among Western countries is turning increasingly toward cheaper alternatives from manufacturers in Asia, where indigenization is trending amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

While Purbaya's strategy of optimistic communication is rooted in macroeconomic theory, it would do well to remember that self-fulfilling prophecies can go either way.

Surveys by credible pollsters indicate that the push to change the election system does not reflect the aspirations of the people, but rather those of political elites who lack popular roots. 

The government recently announced what appeared to be encouraging news for the country’s rice sector: the introduction of a single-price policy for medium-grade rice to be implemented nationwide this year, after he hailed the achievement of self-sufficiency in rice production. While politically attractive, the promise of a uniform rice price across the archipelago warrants closer scrutiny, particularly over whether the price stabilization policy can be sustained without continued reliance on imports or a risk of added fiscal costs.

Long-term public trust in financial stability and in monetary policy can only be vested in institutions, not in individuals, who come and go.

People were creating cave art in Indonesia 67,800 years ago, before modern humans reached Australia.

Publicly bombarding women with these images exerts control over how they present themselves online.

The academic publishing system often allows scientific errors to persist because it prioritizes profit and prestige over timely correction.

Without a dramatic improvement in basic living conditions, the International Stabilization Force will not be able to deliver stability for desperate people in Gaza.

Absence of clarity on the boundary in question raises legitimate questions about the government’s political will and institutional urgency.

Having abundant nickel helps with one component—the battery cathode—but it does not automatically confer the ability to mass-produce quality electric vehicles.

Without discipline, diversification can produce an expensive “rolling museum” with low flying hours, low availability, and a posture that never reaches peak combat effectiveness.

Under Prabowo, the military is no longer positioned chiefly as a protector of the people; it has been transformed into an active economic actor within the agrarian sector.

President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated Pertamina’s Refinery Development Master Plan (RDMP) Balikpapan megaproject on Jan. 12, marking the completion of a long-delayed strategic oil refinery upgrade. The project, with an investment value of US$7.4 billion (Rp 123 trillion), is expected to raise production capacity to 360,000 barrels per day (bpd) from 260,000 bpd and enable Indonesia to stop importing diesel fuel as early as the second quarter of this year.

Democracy in Indonesia has been on the retreat in the last 10 years or so, freedom of speech and other types of freedoms are being undermined, and activists and civil society groups warn of a shrinking civic space.

The 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, convened in Hanoi on January 19, marked a significant strategic pivot regarding the country's development. By formalizing the concept of an "Era of National Rise," the Congress signaled a decisive transition from a period of historical accumulation to a new phase driven by critical structural breakthroughs.

While public support for clean energy is strong in principle, it weakens quickly when new infrastructure appears close to home. 

As the number of crypto investors and transactions continues to grow rapidly, Indonesia must move equally swiftly to implement the OECD's CARF to ensure a safe domestic ecosystem founded on transparency.

When unemployment declines and employment rises, labor market conditions are commonly perceived as improving. This interpretation is not incorrect, but it remains incomplete.

As the initiator of the Bali Democracy Forum and the 2026 president of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Jakarta should continue to champion the protection of rights and democratic principles.

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.