What is the lived experience of urban poverty in Indonesia, and what forms of activism do the urban poor engage in? Where do the urban poor fit into Indonesia’s cities?
Politics
“We are growing, and each of us is becoming an agent that brings more and more people to understand the importance of this fight.”
President Joko Widodo has brushed off accusations by critics that he is looking to create a political dynasty after a decision by his son and son-in-law to run for mayoral posts in next year’s regional elections.
“When I joined KPK and I saw great hope here, all of a sudden the fact is that I have seen the hope flicker and eventually disappear.”
An ongoing graft case involving the firm’s ex-CEO Karen Agustiawan, the first woman to run a SOE in Indonesia, shows the challenges inherent in running these firms that play a major role in Southeast Asia’s largest economy.
While the challenge is real, the approach adopted by the Jokowi administration thus far suffers from serious limitations and challenges.
While illiberal and anti-democratic populist Islamist movements are a reality in Indonesia and can be indeed be considered a threat to its democracy, the term “radical” is very vague and very broad.
In an ever more religiously conservative Indonesia, LGBT people are living in fear for their safety, yet they still have hope deep inside for a more tolerant community in the future.
