Want to follow Indonesian Politics?

My Commentaries on Indonesian Politics published on Fulcrum.sg

Since 2014, I have been Visiting Senior Fellow at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, which is based in Singapore, an academic think-tank that is concerned with Southeast Asian Studies. This is its website: www.iseas.edu.sg

I have written for ISEAS platforms such as Trends and Perspective and since 2021 for Fulcrum.sg. I have also written and edited books for ISEAS and also book chapters.

The list below is specifically of shorter commentaries published on fulcrum.sg.

I will be posting links to any new articles on any of the ISEAS platforms on Substack. If you want to be kept op-to-date, you might like to subscribe to my Substack.

I will be also posting links to any articles I publish on any other platforms/publications.

Here they are:

Criticising Indonesia’s Anti-Criticism Law: Irony of Ironies

3 March 2021

https://fulcrum.sg/criticising-indonesias-anti-criticism-law-irony-of-ironies/

To Be Young and Rich: Indonesia’s Vaccination Controversies

1 March 2021

https://fulcrum.sg/to-be-young-and-rich-indonesias-vaccination-controversies/

The Democrat Party Split: Dynastic versus All-Party Politics

15 March 2021

https://fulcrum.sg/the-democrat-party-split-dynastic-versus-all-party-politics/

The Makassar Bombing: Attacking Terrorist Attacks

14 April 2021

https://fulcrum.sg/the-makassar-bombing-attacking-terrorist-attacks/

Speaking Out on Politics in Indonesia: More Opportunity, More Fear

12 May 2021

https://fulcrum.sg/speaking-out-on-politics-in-indonesia-more-opportunity-more-fear/

Jakarta and Papua: Where There are No Risk-Free Choices

31 May 2021

https://fulcrum.sg/jakarta-and-papua-where-there-are-no-risk-free-choices/

Political Parties’ Manoeuvring after the Jokowi-Prabowo Rapprochement

9 June 2021

https://fulcrum.sg/political-parties-manoeuvring-after-the-jokowi-prabowo-rapprochement/

Indonesia’s Covid-19 Surge: Contradictions and Criticism

25 June 2021

https://fulcrum.sg/indonesias-covid-19-surge-contradictions-and-criticism/

Indonesia Suspends Paid Vaccination Programme: Signs of Growing Political Pressure

23 July 2021

https://fulcrum.sg/indonesia-suspends-paid-vaccination-programme-signs-of-growing-political-pressure/

The KPK Controversy Keeps Corruption a Central Issue in Public Consciousness

1 September 2021

https://fulcrum.sg/the-kpk-controversy-keeps-corruption-a-central-issue-in-public-consciousness/

Politicians’ Billboard War Underscores Absence of Policy Contestation

3 September 2021

https://fulcrum.sg/politicians-billboard-war-underscores-absence-of-policy-contestation/

Emerging Political Parties in Indonesia: Raising the Water Level of Policy Debate?

22 September 2021

https://fulcrum.sg/emerging-political-parties-in-indonesia-raising-the-water-level-of-policy-debate/

Timor-Leste’s Presidential Elections: A Quiet or Rowdy Neighbour for Indonesia?

7 March 2022

https://fulcrum.sg/timor-lestes-presidential-elections-a-quiet-or-rowdy-neighbour-for-indonesia/

A Third Term for Jokowi: Weighing the Risks of Constitutional Change

20 April 2022

https://fulcrum.sg/a-third-term-for-jokowi-weighing-the-risks-of-constitutional-change/

A Victory for the Social Opposition: Upping Protection for Victims of Sexual Violence

10 May 2022

https://fulcrum.sg/a-victory-for-the-social-opposition-upping-protection-for-victims-of-sexual-violence/

Timor Leste’s New President: Polarisation Defused or Postponed?

2 June 2022

https://fulcrum.sg/timor-lestes-new-president-polarisation-defused-or-postponed/

Indonesia’s New Workers Party: Ambiguity in Labour Politics

4 July 2022

https://fulcrum.sg/indonesias-new-workers-party-ambiguity-in-labour-politics/

Indonesia’s New Criminal Code: The Political Establishment Versus Civil Society, Again

5 September 2022

https://fulcrum.sg/indonesias-new-criminal-code-the-political-establishment-versus-civil-society-again/

Fuel Price Rises in Indonesia: A Challenge to Stay the Course

21 September 2022

https://fulcrum.sg/fuel-price-rises-in-indonesia-a-challenge-to-stay-the-course/

Business Throws its Support Behind Indonesia’s Opposition-Free Liberal Democracy

5 October 2022

https://fulcrum.sg/business-throws-its-support-behind-indonesias-opposition-free-liberal-democracy/

Religious Dress in Schools Polemic and Indonesia’s Philosophical Vacuum

18 October 2022

https://fulcrum.sg/religious-dress-in-schools-polemic-and-indonesias-philosophical-vacuum/

Anies Baswedan’s Run for President: Will it Provoke New Distinctions in Contestation?

23 November 2022

https://fulcrum.sg/anies-baswedans-run-for-president-will-it-provoke-new-distinctions-in-contestation/

Widodo Government Acknowledges Gross Human Rights Violations Happened: The Unstoppable Erosion of a Fundamental Taboo

13 February, 2023

https://fulcrum.sg/widodo-government-acknowledges-gross-human-rights-happened-the-unstoppable-erosion-of-a-fundamental-taboo/

Indonesia 2024: Coalition Manoeuvres Heading for A Single Presidential Candidate?

10 April 2023

https://fulcrum.sg/indonesia-2024-coalition-manoeuvres-heading-for-a-single-presidential-candidate/

Viva “Elektabilitas”! Indonesia’s Policy-Free Coalition Fever

9 May 2023

https://fulcrum.sg/viva-elektabilitas-indonesias-policy-free-coalition-fever/

Indonesia’s Presidential Nominations, May Day, and the Fragmented Politics of Labour

11 May 2023

https://fulcrum.sg/indonesias-presidential-nominations-may-day-and-the-fragmented-politics-of-labour/

Will the Labour Party Successfully Challenge the Dominance of “Elektabilitas” Politics in Indonesia?

7 July 2023

https://fulcrum.sg/will-the-labour-party-successfully-challenge-the-dominance-of-elektabilitas-politics-in-indonesia/

Jokowi’s Manoeuvres in Defiance of Megawati Aimed at Consolidating Future Position

19 July 2023

https://fulcrum.sg/jokowis-manoeuvres-in-defiance-of-megawati-aimed-at-consolidating-future-position/

Polarisations in Indonesia: Distinguishing the Real from the Rhetorical

30 August 2023

https://fulcrum.sg/polarisations-in-indonesia-distinguishing-the-real-from-the-rhetorical/

Out of the “Elektabilitas” Mire Comes the Push for Dynastic Power

7 November 2023

https://fulcrum.sg/out-of-the-elektabilitas-mire-comes-the-push-for-dynastic-power/

The Twin Axis in Indonesian Politics: Elite Personal Ambition and the Alienation of Civil Society

19 January 2024

https://fulcrum.sg/the-twin-axis-in-indonesian-politics-elite-personal-ambition-and-the-alienation-of-civil-society/

A Cultural Blow to an Eroding Political Taboo: Viewing “Eksil” (The Exiles), a Hit Documentary

18 March 2024

https://fulcrum.sg/a-cultural-blow-to-an-eroding-political-taboo-viewing-eksil-the-exiles-a-hit-documentary/

Indonesia’s Labour Party After the Elections: Ambiguities Continue

1 July 2024

https://fulcrum.sg/indonesias-labour-party-after-the-elections-ambiguities-continue/

Dynastic Politics Provokes Nationwide Demonstrations

26 August 2024

https://fulcrum.sg/dynastic-politics-provokes-nationwide-demonstrations/

Art and The Continuing Erosion of a Political Taboo: Sculpture and Activism in Indonesia’s National Gallery

25 September 2024

https://fulcrum.sg/art-and-the-continuing-erosion-of-a-political-taboo-sculpture-and-activism-in-indonesias-national-gallery/

Prabowo Subianto Now President with New Cabinet but Speculation Still Rampant

13 December 2024

https://fulcrum.sg/prabowo-subianto-now-president-with-new-cabinet-but-speculation-still-rampant/

Fear of Military Interference in Politics Runs Deep in Indonesia

7 May 2025

https://fulcrum.sg/fear-of-military-interference-in-politics-runs-deep-in-indonesia/

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle’s Challenge: To Be or Not to Be in Opposition

15 May 2025

https://fulcrum.sg/the-indonesian-democratic-party-of-struggles-challenge-to-be-or-not-to-be-in-opposition/

Will Contradictions within the Indonesian Labour Movement Sharpen?

28 May 2025

https://fulcrum.sg/will-contradictions-within-the-indonesian-labour-movement-sharpen/

Power and Opposition Under Prabowo’s Political Cartel

23 June 2025

https://fulcrum.sg/power-and-opposition-under-prabowos-political-cartel/