“It was in Buru that Pramoedya created “the Quartet”. Initially forbidden access to writing materials, Pramoedya recited the stories; vivid tales of the creation of Indonesia, a time of national awakening and rebellion against the colonial rulers, orally to other prisoners. When Pramoedya and two of his fellow prisoners, Joesoef Isak and Hasyim Rachman, were […]
How a political prisoner’s novels gave Indonesia a sense of history by Chris Barrett
“Regardless of Pramoedya’s political views, however, Lane argues he provided Indonesians with a long-lost link to their past, one that is fundamental in reckoning with the future of a still young nation. His highly accessible insider’s account also offers readers in Australia greater understanding of Indonesia’s journey and that can only be positive.” For full […]
How have Two Years of Pandemic Affected Indonesian Political Life? by Max Lane
From ISEAS Perspective, No 7, 2022. “A more fundamental reason why the pandemic has not significantly altered Indonesian political life is that Indonesia’s underlying political structure reinforces policy homogeneity within the broad ruling elite. The primary focus of contestations remains the maneuvering and positioning in relation to the 2024 elections, both presidential and parliamentary..” Read […]
Articles by Max Lane on the Institute for Southeast Asia’s Websites – 2021 (until September)
Articles by Max Lane on the Institute for Southeast Asia’s Websites – 2021 (until September) WIDODO’S EMPLOYMENT CREATION LAW, 2020: WHAT ITS JOURNEY TELLS US ABOUT INDONESIAN POLITICS in Trends – click immediately below. EMERGING POLITICAL PARTIES IN INDONESIA: RAISING THE WATER LEVEL OF POLICY DEBATE? POLITICIANS’ BILLBOARD WAR UNDERSCORES ABSENCE OF POLICY CONTESTATION THE […]
EMERGING POLITICAL PARTIES IN INDONESIA: RAISING THE WATER LEVEL OF POLICY DEBATE? by Max Lane
“In the immediate years after Suharto, it was relatively easy for new political forces to offer new candidates. Without resources or access to the media, however, no new forces succeeded in winning a seat. Later electoral rules have made it even harder for small new parties to register to participate in elections. As a result, […]
The KPK Controversy Keeps Corruption a Central Issue in Public Consciousness” by Max Lane
“Public anger over endemic corruption is being aggravated by emerging signs of graft in the handling of the COVID crisis. There is an ongoing trial of a cabinet minister accused of corrupt mishandling of COVID welfare funds. There has also been public concern over alleged price gouging for COVID medicines and tests. Such developments will […]
SPEAKING OUT ON POLITICS IN INDONESIA: MORE OPPORTUNITY, MORE FEAR by Max Lane
“On 6 April, the Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC) group published poll results showing an increase in Indonesians afraid to speak out criticising government policy. 32 per cent of respondents said that they were often afraid of discussing politics, 7 per cent said they were always afraid. In contrast, a third said they were […]
THE WIDODO GOVERNMENT IN 2020: THE TADPOLE FLAILS by Max Lane
“As Covid year 2020 ends, so too does the first year of the second and final term of the presidency of Joko Widodo. One year in, all the sheen of being the “hope” for Indonesia has vanished. No longer viral are the iconic silhouettes of Jokowi’s head, copying the famed style of the silhouette of […]
Protests Against the Omnibus Law and the Evolution of Indonesia’s Social Opposition
by Max Lane “On October 8, unionised workers as well as university and high school students protested for the repeal of the Omnibus for Work Creation Law (Omnibus Law) that had been passed by Indonesia’s House of Representatives on October 5, 3 days earlier than expected. Some small protests took place immediately on October 5, […]
COVID-19’s Impact on Indonesia’s Social Opposition: The Examples of Labour Rights and the Papuan Question
Singapore | 11 August 2020 ISEAS Perspective by Max Lane “While the rapprochement between President Widodo and his rival Prabowo Subianto has subdued the sense of polarisation among the Indonesian elite, signs of a polarisation between critical sections of civil society and the government and parliament continue to grow.” To read the article, […]
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