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.

Japan’s warning wasn’t triggered by a government audit or diplomatic scandal. It came because a citizen saw concerning social media posts and decided to act.

States should complement production limitations with investment for research and development of plastic alternatives, which may create new jobs for those impacted by the limitation policy.

Rather than responding to a crisis, Trump’s policies seek to reorient the American economy by revitalizing its once-dominant manufacturing sector.

A newly revised regulation leans more toward legal protection, even verging on legal immunity, rather than addressing the root causes that have long undermined the performance and integrity of SOEs.

Danantara has secured a staggering US$10 billion in unsecured credit lines from 11 foreign banks and $7 billion in equity investments from sovereign wealth funds (SWFs), a remarkable feat for an institution that is less than six months old. Yet its rapid rise raises an important question: Is Danantara truly operating as a SWF to secure long-term prosperity for future generations, or is it functioning as a super holding company to execute President Prabowo Subianto’s ambitious programs?

The government must be transparent with the public and local investors about the US deal’s implications, particularly around data storage.

Many organizations in Indonesia, from small enterprises to large corporations, are facing challenges in implementing the Personal Data Protection Law (PDP Law), which transition period ended on 17 October 2024. One key reason for this is the general lack of familiarity with this relatively new regulation.

We’ve experienced first-hand how diplomacy is built not just in meeting rooms, but over meals, stories, laughter, passionate discussion and shared hopes and ambitions.

It is the first time the Arab states have called for Hamas to disarm and disband.

Indonesia continues to treat sugarcane solely as a source of sugar, focusing merely on output quantity rather than developing it as a diversified industrial crop.

Despite the breakdown in ties between the European Union and China in recent years, the idea of collaborating on clean trade and investment is not so far-fetched.

Prabowo obliterated what remained of the opposition in a single day.

If ASEAN is to mean anything in the decades ahead, it must move beyond being a ceremonial forum.

Indonesia's political elite are once again pushing to alter the system for regional head elections (Pilkada), currently conducted through direct public voting. The proposed changes aim to shift the authority to elect local leaders back to regional legislative councils (DPRD) or even allow for direct presidential appointments. However, these discussions appear less like well-reasoned policy debates and more like atempts to gauge public reaction.

The President's decision could have serious implications not only for the country’s anti-corruption drive but also for the reputation of the judiciary.