Society

Running in style

A new bug for running points toward a new politics of lifestyle

Platitudes of Papua

It’s easy to blame the central government for all of Papua’s problems, but it’s also inaccurate

Dying for nothing

Special Autonomy has crippled health services in the Papuan Highlands

Sex, lies and politicians

Indonesian politicians quite often star inadvertently in porn films, but it doesn’t seem to hurt them much

Cosmopolitan Indonesia

Image 1 - Affandi Self portrait with pipe

Cosmopolitanism is a magnificent ideal for a world torn by divisions and it exists in Indonesia in some surprising places. But how deep does and can it go? Gerry van Klinken

Subaltern cosmopolitans

Riau Islanders prove you don’t have to be rich, or even mobile, to be a citizen of the world

Impossible ideal?

Cosmopolitanism is a dirty word in rural West Java, where creativity and new words are needed to reopen dialogue.

Diaspora power

Abused maids are not the only Indonesians overseas as success stories from the Indonesia Diaspora Congress show

Café culture

The changing socio-economic status of Yogyakarta’s students threatens the survival of one of the city’s icons

Blaming Papuans

Education is a mess in Papua’s highlands, but fault doesn’t lie with the Papuans alone

Review: A tale of survival and resilience in modern Surabaya

Robbie Peters' new book brings the poor urban kampungs of Surabaya to life

Stopping intolerance

Government must act to halt growing discrimination against minorities

Campaigning for agrarian reform

Rahmat Ajiguna talks to Eve Warburton about the need to make farmers the centre of food security in Indonesia

Food security is an urgent policy problem in Indonesia but opinions are divided about how best to feed the poorest and most vulnerable Thushara Dibley and Eve Warburton Indonesia is a country with a rapidly expanding middle class and a growing economy. Its neighbours are taking more notice, and Indonesia now plays a pivotal role in regional politics. Yet for many Indonesians, the daily task of feeding their families can be a real challenge. Even with government subsidies, Indonesia has the most expensive rice in the region. The government's commitment to reducing heavy fuel subsidies is expected to impact the price and accessibility of rice and other basic foodstuffs. Poor families are the most vulnerable in this situation.