The Indonesian government is carrying out massive budget efficiencies. At almost the same time, Vietnam is also doing the same thing. What is the difference between the two?

Democracy, which should serve as a tool to channel the aspirations of the people, is instead being hijacked by an oligarchy seeking to preserve its power.

The syndicates employ the "member gets member" strategy of recruitment, leveraging threats rather than bonuses to coerce members into deceiving friends and relatives.

Social media has transformed power dynamics by providing a platform for voices that were previously marginalized. 

Critical minerals have become a focal point in global geopolitics, shaping energy strategy and national security policies.

PT Sri Rejeki Isman (Sritex), one of Southeast Asia’s largest integrated textile manufacturers, officially ceased operations on Mar. 1, 2025, following its bankruptcy declaration. The shutdown led to the layoff of 10,965 workers between January and February 2025. In response, President Prabowo has instructed several ministers to devise solutions to help re-employ the affected workers, including leasing factory machinery, attracting investors to acquire the company and facilitating their absorption into other companies.

The geopolitics of climate change are ultimately about which governance model will pay and manage the transition to net zero.

As they watched Zelensky evicted from the White House last month after an unprecedented live televised quarrel with Trump and Vance, some of the United States' closest allies began to swiftly reappraise decades of foreign and defense policy.

In Indonesia, women make up 54 percent of borrowers from high-interest online loan providers, making them more susceptible to loan sharks and debt collectors, which may often pursue intimidation tactics.

MRV technologies are vital not only for tracking emissions, but also for ensuring transparency and credibility in carbon markets.

Various indicators suggest that the economy remains in a difficult state.

Volunteers who campaigned for Anies Baswedan in the 2024 presidential election have launched Gerakan Rakyat (People’s Movement) potentially offering a political vehicle for the popular but also controversial former Jakarta governor, should he decide to run in 2029. Still only 55 years old and very ambitious, it is almost certain that he will throw down the gauntlet.

Given all the other shortfalls in our manufacturing industries, wages play a relatively small role, while electricity costs and the availability of renewable energy are increasingly important.

Although women across ASEAN have access to basic digital tools, many lack the skills or confidence to scale their businesses, protect and use their intellectual property, enter global supply chains, and access networking opportunities that could enable them to grow their ventures. 

The continued involvement of brokers and middlemen in fuel procurement, coupled with the lack of transparency in tender processes, underscores the ongoing vulnerabilities in Pertamina’s governance structure.

Judges often treat femicide cases as ordinary homicides without delving deeper into the patriarchal structures that enable femicide as a systemic crime.

Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) attempt to "restore" American dominance through economic protectionism and geopolitical confrontation mirrors Odysseus’ futile attempt to reclaim an old order that no longer exists.

AI development isn't just about writing code; it demands powerful computing infrastructure, massive datasets and continuous investment. Can Indonesia, with its underdeveloped cloud and hardware ecosystem, sustain such costs?

The Indonesian Military (TNI) Law has joined the priority list of this year’s National Legislation Program (Prolegnas), after failing to make it in the 2019-2024 term of the House of Representatives. The revision comes as President Prabowo Subianto shows a tendency to involve the military in his flagship programs.

Closing gender gaps in employment would boost gross domestic product (GDP) by up to 20 percent globally. 

Several languages, particularly in the eastern regions, including Papua, Maluku and North Maluku, are on the brink of extinction. 

Advocates of official development assistance rightly argue that it saves lives and serves national interests. But that does not change the fact that the system has been hemorrhaging credibility and resources for years and lacks a convincing narrative.

The transatlantic alliance appears to be coming apart at the seams, meaning Europe will need to quickly develop a strategy for harnessing geopolitical hard power.

Building upon our shared cultural heritage and historical ties that date back to kingdoms of old, Indonesia and Thailand look forward to a dynamic partnership committed to peace, security and prosperity for our peoples and the region as a whole.

The granting of rights to a monopoly seems to be increasingly generalized or facilitated.

Poverty rates among Papuans remain high, with inadequate access to education, healthcare and employment opportunities even after 20 years of special autonomy.

The sector has been grappling with a mix of internal and external challenges, including regulatory hurdles.