Talking Indonesia

The past decade has seen increased global interest in Indonesian art and along with it, interest in the long-neglected field of Indonesian art history. Until quite recently, art history resources were limited, particularly relating to lesser known artists and works produced during tumultuous periods. Today, institutions like the Indonesian Visual Arts Archive (IVAA) in Yogyakarta are doing their b...

On 21 April, Indonesia celebrated Kartini Day, commemorating Raden Ageng Kartini, a national hero and pioneer of the emancipation of women. More than a century since her death, gender, sexuality and morality are highly contested issues in politics and society. In recent times, a conservative turn in Indonesia has seen extreme voices come to the fore in mainstream Islam, leading to attacks on non-t...

What is the state of US-Indonesia relations, amidst rising geo-political competition in Indonesia's immediate region, and following the election of Donald Trump as president? What does President Jokowi's Indonesia seek from the United States on shared concerns such as the South China Sea, the fight against ISIS, and the Palestinian conflict? And will Trump's America First policy be manifest during...

While the extractive industries sector in Indonesia is particularly well-known for its widespread rent-seeking, opaque licensing rules and assertive resource nationalism, a small but growing number of civil society organizations is trying to alter the sector’s reputation through initiatives that aim to spread global norms and values such as transparency and accountability in Indonesia’s extractive...

The recent visit by Indonesian President Joko Widodo to Australia was considered a success, with evidence of a good rapport between Widodo and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. However, the visit came in the wake of yet another tense period in the bilateral relationship, this time because of the discovery of apparently offensive materials related to Pancasila and Papua at an Australian m...

The last five years have seen the emergence of volunteer organisations as new actors in the campaigns of some of Indonesia's most important elections. Who are these volunteers, what motivates them and what role do they play in elections. Have volunteer organisations changed the role of political parties, or opened new access for the citizens mobilising as part of them? How will they influence the...

Fake news has become a big problem in Indonesia. A case in point here is the intense circulation of inflammatory anti-Chinese hoaxes surrounding the hotly contested Jakarta gubernatorial election campaign. What can the government and other institutions really do to curb Indonesia’s fake news problem? Is the proliferation of fake news further indication of greater polarisation of Indonesian society...

Just how much is the controversy around Ahok related to his ethnicity and religion and how much is it about popular politics in Indonesia today? How has Ahok’s own political style played a part? We also discuss what racism looks like almost twenty years after the fall of the New Order and with it institutionalised state racism against this minority. Dr Jemma Purdey explores these questions and mor...

What role do political dynasties play in Indonesian politics, including the upcoming Jakarta gubernatorial election? What motivates political families to attempt to establish themselves as dynasties, and how do they do so? Are steps needed to curb the entrenchment of dynasties in the Indonesian political system? In this week's Talking Indonesia podcast, the first for 2017, I explore these issues w...

What are the most important online tools for pro-ISIS groups in Indonesia, and what these groups use them for? How do their online activities differ to fellow Indonesian jihadis who oppose ISIS? How can the Indonesian government monitor and counter extremists’ activities online? This week's Talking Indonesia podcast explores these issues with Nava Nuraniyah, analyst at the Institute for the Policy...

In the Talking Indonesia podcast, Dr Dave McRae and Dr Ken Setiawan alternately present extended interviews each fortnight with experts on Indonesian politics, foreign policy, culture, language and more. Photo credit: Indonesian Representative to AICHR. Find all the Talking Indonesia episodes and more at the Indonesia At Melbourne blog.

In the Talking Indonesia podcast, Dr Dave McRae and Dr Ken Setiawan alternately present extended interviews each fortnight with experts on Indonesian politics, foreign policy, culture, language and more. Photo credit: Sigid Kurniawan for Antara Foto. Find all the Talking Indonesia episodes and more at the Indonesia At Melbourne blog.

In the Talking Indonesia podcast, Dr Dave McRae and Dr Ken Setiawan alternately present extended interviews each fortnight with experts on Indonesian politics, foreign policy, culture, language and more. Photo credit: Novrian Arbi for Antara Photo. Find all the Talking Indonesia episodes and more at the Indonesia At Melbourne blog.

In the Talking Indonesia podcast, Dr Dave McRae and Dr Ken Setiawan alternately present extended interviews each fortnight with experts on Indonesian politics, foreign policy, culture, language and more. Photo credit: Dave McRae. Find all the Talking Indonesia episodes and more at the Indonesia At Melbourne blog

In the Talking Indonesia podcast, Dr Dave McRae and Dr Ken Setiawan alternately present extended interviews each fortnight with experts on Indonesian politics, foreign policy, culture, language and more. Photo credit: ILO in Asia and the Pacific via Flickr. Find all the Talking Indonesia episodes and more at the Indonesia At Melbourne blog.

In the Talking Indonesia podcast, Dr Dave McRae and Dr Ken Setiawan alternately present extended interviews each fortnight with experts on Indonesian politics, foreign policy, culture, language and more. Photo credit: Dave McRae. Find all the Talking Indonesia episodes and more at the Indonesia At Melbourne blog

In the Talking Indonesia podcast, Dr Dave McRae and Dr Ken Setiawan alternately present extended interviews each fortnight with experts on Indonesian politics, foreign policy, culture, language and more. Photo credit: Tim Mann. Find all the Talking Indonesia episodes and more at the Indonesia At Melbourne blog.

In the Talking Indonesia podcast, Dr Dave McRae and Dr Ken Setiawan alternately present extended interviews each fortnight with experts on Indonesian politics, foreign policy, culture, language and more. Photo credit: Jacqui Baker. Find all the Talking Indonesia episodes and more at the Indonesia At Melbourne blog.

In the Talking Indonesia podcast, Dr Dave McRae and Dr Ken Setiawan alternately present extended interviews each fortnight with experts on Indonesian politics, foreign policy, culture, language and more. Photo credit: Danumurthi Mahendra via Flickr. Find all the Talking Indonesia episodes and more at the Indonesia At Melbourne blog.

In the Talking Indonesia podcast, Dr Dave McRae and Dr Ken Setiawan alternately present extended interviews each fortnight with experts on Indonesian politics, foreign policy, culture, language and more. Photo credit: eko susanto via Flickr. Find all the Talking Indonesia episodes and more at the Indonesia At Melbourne blog.

In the Talking Indonesia podcast, Dr Dave McRae and Dr Ken Setiawan alternately present extended interviews each fortnight with experts on Indonesian politics, foreign policy, culture, language and more. Photo credit: Priscilla Huwae via Flickr. Find all the Talking Indonesia episodes and more at the Indonesia At Melbourne blog.

In the Talking Indonesia podcast, Dr Dave McRae and Dr Ken Setiawan alternately present extended interviews each fortnight with experts on Indonesian politics, foreign policy, culture, language and more. Photo credit: Biro Pers Setpres. Find all the Talking Indonesia episodes and more at the Indonesia At Melbourne blog.

In the Talking Indonesia podcast, Dr Dave McRae and Dr Ken Setiawan alternately present extended interviews each fortnight with experts on Indonesian politics, foreign policy, culture, language and more. Photo credit: Chris Lewis via Flickr. Find all the Talking Indonesia episodes and more at the Indonesia At Melbourne blog.

In the Talking Indonesia podcast, Dr Dave McRae and Dr Ken Setiawan alternately present extended interviews each fortnight with experts on Indonesian politics, foreign policy, culture, language and more. Find all the Talking Indonesia episodes and more at the Indonesia At Melbourne blog.

In the Talking Indonesia podcast, Dr Dave McRae and Dr Ken Setiawan alternately present extended interviews each fortnight with experts on Indonesian politics, foreign policy, culture, language and more. Photo credit: Andy Fuller. Find all the Talking Indonesia episodes and more at the Indonesia At Melbourne blog.