The Real Estate of Resistance: Guterres, Land Grabs, and Jakarta’s Silence
IF DIPLOMACY is a theatre of the absurd, the latest act in the West Bank is a masterclass. On February 16, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres launched a rhetorical broadside against Israel’s…
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The Norida Narrative: Beyond the Viral Veil
IN THE age of digital outrage, a compelling story of abandonment often travels faster than the mundane truth. The case of Norida Akmal Ayob, a Malaysian national whose alleged 18-year ordeal as a…
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The Washington Gambit: Jakarta’s Pragmatism on Eroding Ground
President Prabowo Subianto’s arrival in Washington DC this February carries the weight of a precarious diplomatic balancing act. On one hand, Indonesia’s inclusion in Donald Trump’s burgeoning…
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The Art of the Deal, Indonesian Style
IN THE theatre of economic diplomacy, timing is everything. As President Prabowo Subianto gathered his economic lieutenants at his residence this week, the signal sent to global markets was…
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The Danantara Manifesto and the Rebirth of Dirigisme
At the Indonesia Economic Outlook 2026, held within the sleek corridors of Wisma Danantara, President Prabowo Subianto delivered what can only be described as a manifesto for a “Self-Reliant…
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Sumitronomics and the High-Stakes Gamble on Social Stability
To the orthodox fiscal hawk, Indonesia’s single-minded pursuit of its $3.8 billion (Rp60 trillion) per quarter “Free Nutritious Meals” (MBG) program looks like a reckless expansion of…
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The “Beer Crate” Scandal and the Rot in the Ranks
In the dusty corridors of the Bima City Police in West Nusa Tenggara, a scandal has erupted that reads like a gritty Netflix noir. It involves a high-ranking narcotics officer, a missing kingpin,…
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