Weighing The Economist’s Coverage of Indonesia and the Prabowo Administration

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In weighing The Economist’s reporting on Indonesia and President Prabowo’s administration, we attempt a fair and balanced analysis of the statements and responses involved. On May 14, 2026, The Economist simultaneously published two major articles, both focusing on Indonesia and President Prabowo Subianto. The two pieces were titled “Indonesia’s President Is Jeopardising the Economy and […]

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Liberty, Prosperity, Security: The Governing Philosophy of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

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Among the political thinkers that modern Indonesia has produced, few have been as systematic in articulating a democratic governing philosophy as Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. SBY offers a philosophical framework in a trilogy: liberty, prosperity, and security. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono — widely known as SBY — served as the sixth President of the Republic of Indonesia

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Haji Isam: Indonesian Oligarch Who Built a Rp101 Trillion Empire — Business, Cabinet Influence, and Indonesia’s Most Explosive Stock Phenomenon

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 JAKARTA — In the lexicon of Indonesian power, few names carry as much weight — or as much controversy — as Andi Syamsuddin Arsyad. Better known as Haji Isam, this 48-year-old tycoon from the forests of South Kalimantan has become the defining face of a new Indonesian oligarchy: a class of businessmen who have turned

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Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meals Program and the Leadership Test for Prabowo

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When Prabowo Subianto won Indonesia’s 2024 presidential election, one campaign promise stood out more than any other: free nutritious meals program for schoolchildren. It sounded simple, almost disarmingly populist. Yet behind the promise, lies one of the most complex and ambitious social policy experiments in modern Indonesia. Launched in January 2025, the Free Nutritious Meals

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Analysis: Indonesia in The Board of Peace and the Palestinian Conflict After the Attack on UNIFIL Troops in Lebanon

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Three soldiers of the Garuda Contingent were killed in Lebanon within 24 hours. This incident is not merely a national tragedy—it exposes the deepest contradiction in Indonesia’s diplomacy: Indonesia is in The Board of Peace, sponsored by a country accused of killing its own soldiers. Saturday night, March 29, 2026. At a guard post near

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Iran Military Capabilities After the 2025–2026 Strikes: A Strategic Assessment by Indonesian Military Expert

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Iran has absorbed several waves of large-scale strikes and still retains asymmetric retaliation capacity; Iran military capabilities is degraded but not collapsed. Every conventional strike that fails to end the regime, reinforces Iran’s nuclear justification – making this the most important variable to consider. Two waves of large-scale airstrikes launched by the United States and

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Tourism Investment in Indonesia: Indonesia’s $13 Billion Invitation to Global Investors

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Indonesia is rolling out the red carpet for foreign capital with a mix of tax holidays, simplified licensing, and a digital-first strategy. Tourism investment in Indonesia is one of the most compelling tourism stories for 2026 and beyond. ​Indonesia is no longer just counting tourists; it’s counting on quality. As the nation eyes an ambitious

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The Global Echo of Palestine: How Boycotts are Redefining Consumption in Indonesia

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This boycott stands as one of the most massive global acts of mass political resistance in the 21st century in support of Palestine. At one point, the people of Banda Aceh measured progress by the presence of KFC in their city. It was a benchmark of sorts; after all, in almost every major city across

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Political Lineage, Elite Reproduction, and the Power Transition in Indonesia

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The period from 2026 leading up to the next two presidential elections in 2029 and 2034 represents a crucial juncture for Indonesia’s political future. A number of veteran Indonesian political elites who have occupied the inner circle of power—many since the 1998 Reformasi—are entering their twilight years. How will the power transition unfold in their

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