The government must first tackle the mafia-style organizations polluting the streets in industrial zones, or else it is just pouring trillions in tax incentives into the gutter.

When the government completes rewriting the official national history, scheduled for August, do not expect too much change on topics that are too politically sensitive to be written in a more honest and objective way. The more recent history will likely be much trickier to write, and to read, for that matter, as many of the (bad) actors are still alive.

While the Geneva agreement brings hope, it does not undo all the damage. Our global trade will never be what it used to be.

When a gamelan gong is streamed on Spotify, its resonance reaches the world, but its soul stays trapped in a digital plantation, harvested for clicks while its guardians starve.

The current administration has signaled very little as regards the greater representation of women as part of Indonesia's foreign policy agenda, more specifically the processes of diplomacy, peacebuilding and decision-making in the security sector.

If wealthier countries refuse to provide for the global common good, the multilateral system as we know it will not survive.

While there are reasons for some optimism, the country needs to do more in terms of reforms and inclusivity to not just drive the domestic economy, but also to become the region’s leader in sustainable development.

Unprecedented scientific and technological advances have resulted in important industrial transformations, including within the healthcare industry.

President Prabowo Subianto’s pledge to phase out Indonesia’s outsourcing system amid a wave of layoffs and rising unemployment has sparked mixed reactions. Announced during the May Day celebrations on May 1, 2025, the proposal was framed as a bold step to improve labor conditions. But critics warn it may prove to be an empty promise driven by political aspirations rather than grounded strategy.

Indonesian soccer fans’ behavior is a hindrance to the nation’s aspirations to see Indonesia become a great soccer nation.

Ten years on, little has changed. ASEAN still lacks a regional asylum framework or coherent protection mechanism.

More than ever before, we must make sure that multilateral action is equal to the challenges of protecting the ocean.

Alarming signals indicate a disaster for our democracy is unfolding fast. Civil society must take action lest the worst premonitions become reality.

Diplomacy and dialogue are unfortunately incorrectly perceived as signs of weakness and lack of resolve.

The world is in need of new locations for production and distribution, and Indonesia has great potential.

Over the years, there has been a growing trend of internal military politics influencing the selection and rotation of high-ranking officers.

Since taking office in October, President Prabowo Subianto has moved quickly to install key allies, many with military backgrounds, into top posts at state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Their appointments span a wide range of sectors from aviation and logistics to mining, prompting concerns over growing cronyism and the erosion of meritocratic principles in corporate governance of SOEs.

Both the President and former president are part of the country’s political institutions which should not be shielded from criticism, including satire.

Tensions in South Asia have been taken down a notch with news of a ceasefire but the conditions for future escalations remain, and mechanisms for peace appear to have been diminished.

The local wisdom of sustainable fishing practices shows that real ocean solutions come from those often excluded from decision-making. 

Weak purchasing power, a declining middle class, widespread layoffs and falling consumer expectations have led to a decrease in the demand for goods.

In the face of such oppression, Muslim nations are called upon to rise in solidarity and action.

Trade talks will mean balancing the US need for critical minerals and the Indonesian desire to develop its domestic processing.

The procurement of advanced fighters will only carry strategic value if the country is able to deploy them freely and effectively in its critical air zones.

A rising wave of layoffs and the persistent expansion of informal and precarious jobs suggest that headline figures alone are no longer sufficient to understand the state of labor market.

The Constitutional Court has taken another step in defense of freedom of expression from the draconian Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law. The court’s decision offers additional assurance of civil liberties following last year’s legislative amendments aimed at addressing the concerns over digital authoritarianism by the government, which was behind the passing of the legislation in the first place.

Other countries have tackled racketeering through a combination of targeted asset seizures, witness protection, whistleblower incentives and cross-agency coordination.