Democracy

Performance groups negotiate between Islam and Sundanese tradition

Nils Bubandt brings an exciting new approach to the study of Indonesia's politics

The new Village Law pumps money directly into subsistence villages: a crazy idea, or new development paradigm?

Herb Feith Annual Memorial Lecture 2014

While material inducements to voters have been prevalent in 2014, candidates also employ innovative campaign strategies to attract support

The distribution of money, goods and other benefits is an integral part of electioneering in Indonesia

Edward Aspinall Indonesia’s legislative elections offer a window into the deep forces shaping the country, and a glimpse of its political future Indonesia is part way through its election year, having held its legislative elections on 9 April, and with the country now gearing up for the first round of the presidential polls in July. With more than 235,000 candidates running for seats in national, provincial and district legislatures around the country, the April poll was a massive logistical affair. It was also the culmination of years of effort, expense and stress for a huge number of people. Yet in some ways, the actual results of the election were an anti-climax.

What do you get when you cross Sarah Palin and an Islamic polygamist? Meet Rhoma Irama – Indonesia’s king of dangdut

At its upmarket congress, Indonesia’s biggest Islamic party tried but failed to convince it has become an open and inclusive party

The election of Anas Urbaningrum suggests Partai Demokrat can survive without its founder, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

Lapindo Brantas’ involvement in the Surabaya Post has restricted the way journalists report on the mudflow

A Christian church is asserting its democratic rights by suing the mayor of Depok

Reflecting on the Act of Free Choice and the integration of West Papua into Indonesia

Indonesia’s claim to sovereignty over West Papua rests upon an unsound legal basis

Many Indonesian students face obstacles voting, but they aren’t much interested anyway

Voters have done everything they can for democracy. The same cannot be said for elites

Indonesia's biggest Muslim organizations are having second thoughts about partisan politics

Whether Papuans support autonomy or independence, they should be allowed to speak freely

Indonesians have a love-hate relationship with their political parties