Edition 116: Apr-Jun 2014 - Inside Indonesia: The peoples and cultures of Indonesia

Election year

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.

Jokowi’s path to the presidency might not be as smooth as it once seemed, but he is still the front runner

Jakarta 1998 was bad, but Prabowo likely had more blood on his hands in East Timor

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

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

The workers of Bekasi get a political education as union activists make history in a coordinated campaign

Election campaigning in highland Papua breaks all the stereotypes

Election year

Jokowi: Rise of a polite populist

Prabowo and human rights

Money politics

Creative campaigners

Workers – go politics!

Mixed messages

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