Indonesia’s poverty and unemployment rates continued to decline, according to data released by Statistics Indonesia (BPS) earlier this year. This progress is accompanied by a modest reduction in income inequality. However, these gains mask deeper structural issues as urban poverty rises and labor informality becomes more widespread, exposing more Indonesian workers to precarity.

The international organization stands at the cusp of reform to rid itself of outdated practices and embrace an inclusive, long-term vision to redefine its relevance in today's world, and Indonesia is well-positioned to take a lead in this transformative venture.

Rather than acting like an authoritarian regime, the government should have looked into why people are “protesting” with the pirate flag.

As much as the world might desire a crystal ball that sees beyond the uncertainty wrought by the current geonomic competition, AI and algorithmic forecasts can only do so much, as it is humans who ultimately determine the outcome through the decisions we make.

For decades, Malaysia and the US have enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship. Could that be changing?

Green energy subsidies, expanding tax incentives for green technologies, price control mechanisms like contracts for difference and more coordinated financial assistance will ease the burden of industrial decarbonization projects.

Indonesia’s recent trade agreement with the United States has reignited debate over the country’s fragile grip on digital sovereignty. 

What does a multi-billion-dollar trade surplus mean if rural families still have to choose between paying the electricity bill and buying a side dish?

Through a recent reciprocal trade agreement between the United States and Indonesia, the Indonesian government has officially recognized the US as a jurisdiction with “adequate data protection.” This designation creates a legal pathway for the transfer of personal data from Indonesia to the US, effectively sidestepping existing data localization requirements by treating US-based entities, including data brokers, as equivalent to Indonesian data operators. As the US remains the global center for data brokerage, experts warn that this move could legitimize the large-scale commercialization of Indonesian personal data.

Political parties have become effective tools for the elite—whether civilians, military or business tycoons—to maintain and expand their influence.

The President's recent move to grant amnesty to Hasto Kristiyanto presents a case study for the use of political diction in the continuing power play between the hegemony of his "grand coalition" and the counterstrategy of PDI-P matriarch Megawati in defining her party's stance.

Instead of championing sustainability as pragmatic realism, progressives' current approach of lopping together today's multifaceted crises and those related to all manner of injustices as a single, bloated issue only serves to alienate the broader public.

When keeping score, you aren’t supposed to add "own goals" to your tally.

If the local EV plant operates mainly as an assembly site, while key components, technologies and decisions remain imported, then Indonesia risks staying an import-based market.

A public endorsement of the ceasefire by both monarchs of Cambodia and Thailand would signal to the public that peace is a sacred national objective, not just a temporary political maneuver.

When citizens choose a pirate flag over an official sign of national identity to symbolize their hopes for justice, it is not because they reject the nation. It is because they feel rejected by it.

ASEAN has come under heavy criticism for its failure to prevent war from erupting between Thailand and Cambodia, with a part of that blame leveled at Indonesia as the largest member of the regional group. The paralysis of ASEAN reveals the limits of diplomacy when it comes to resolving territorial disputes between members. Not surprisingly, Indonesia has not done much beyond appealing for restraint.

President Prabowo Subianto must seize his upcoming address at the United Nations General Assembly next month to make Indonesia’s stance on Palestine unambiguous.

Selfie parks may be controversial but they should at least keep tourists safe, as travelers have even been killed in search of the perfect shot.

Given the current geopolitical climate, Indonesia must further diversify its partnerships to strengthen the resilience of its nickel downstreaming strategy.

The 80th anniversary of the nation's founding should occasion a reflection of our beginnings and where we are today, and mark a new era of reform to free us from the deep-rooted scourge of corruption and fulfill the promises of our constitutional republic, a dream that was realized through the sweat and blood of millions over centuries.

A demographic collapse is putting China’s economy, society and polity at risk.

We need more comprehensive social intervention, not only for the children but also for their parents and social environment, to break the cycle of violence.

We tend to treat the case of Paulus Tannos' escape from justice as a matter of administration rather than urgency, losing critical time and leverage in the process.

In a shocking twist to end the month, President Prabowo Subianto has decided to give legal clemency to both the secretary-general of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Hasto Kristiyanto, and former trade minister Thomas ‘Tom’ Trikasih Lembong for their respective graft convictions.

The drop in Indonesia’s poverty rate to yet another historic low should be cause for celebration, but nobody feels in the mood.

Already, 2025 has witnessed a series of the largest and most sophisticated military drills held in the Pacific since the end of World War II, a sign of growing worry over a rising China.