Jul 13, 2020 Last Updated 11:50 PM, Jul 2, 2020

Inside Indonesia

Social Movements

The extractive industries in East Nusa Tenggara

Protestors hold up signs expressing anger at mining activity and exploration.

As a number of communities in East Nusa Tenggara reject mining, tourism as a resistance strategy can be equally exploitative

Church-based resistance to mining in Manggarai

In a forest clearing, a group of villagers surround a priest, listening to his sermon.

Resistance is a way of defending local people’s rights in dealing with mining policy

Review: The ideology of the family state

David Reeve reviews David Bourchier’s important contribution to understandings of political thinking in Indonesia

The Floating School

Despite its recent start, the Floating School already has 83 students. (Rahmat Hidayat)

A mobile school in South Sulawesi offers new horizons to young islanders

Gambling with truth

Two Acehnese young women hold up colourful protest signs demanding justice for past human rights violations.

Aceh’s Commission for Truth and Reconciliation has an important, though delicate, mission ahead

Indonesia’s diaspora citizens

A panel of six sit on a small stage in front of a banner at the 4th Congress of Indonesian Diaspora. (Yearry Panji Setianto)

After decades of neglect, Indonesia’s diaspora demands more rights

Islam and citizenship

Speakers address Wahdah Islamiyah's members at the third 'muktamar' (congress) in Jakarta, July 2016. (Imam S/Kiblat.Net)

Organisations like Wahdah Islamiyah envision an ‘Islamic’ citizenship for Indonesia

Digital citizenship

Online corruption talk in Banten can be vitriolic

‘I am an Indonesian citizen!’

A group of people pose smiling for someone taking a photo on their phone.

What does exercising citizenship in Indonesia's democracy look like?

Review: Beyond decent work

Garment workers working at a factory

A new book examines Indonesian labour struggles through the lens of international political economy theory

Fighting for existence

Three young Jakartans participating in REPLING in Cijambe - Credit: Erik Suhana

Environmental education is empowering rural youth to protect their hamlet from a luxury resort project

Environmental child soldiers

Students attending to a rehabilitated rubbish site beside their school - Credit: Kelsie Prabawa-Sear

Surabayan children are fighting to improve their local environment

OzAsia and beyond

Cry Jailolo dancers - Credit: Claude Raschella/OzAsia

OzAsia festival illuminates the world of Indonesian performance and its social concerns

Religious Bandung II: The champion arrives

Newly provided with a functional artificial grass surface, Bandung’s public square is now a popular social space for Bandung residents. (Julian Millie)

Bandung’s civic improvement program continues after its patron is imprisoned

Beyond categorisation

Trans* FTM individuals can identify with many different labels - FAMM Indonesia

An Indonesian transsexual movement faces challenges from within, as well as from without

Punkrock and global protest culture

Tolak reklamasi posters set up in Bali’s villages and neighborhoods - Birgit Bräuchler

An environmental movement is generating new forms of resistance by fusing traditional and contemporary Balinese art with social media

Football, violence and politics

Brajamusti members - Andy Fuller

Yogyakarta’s notorious Brajamusti elects a president

Engaging young Indonesians in politics and the case of WikiDPR

A new volunteer movement is shining a light on Indonesia’s parliament and its representatives

Politics from below

Picture of Prabowo on a car - Vembri Waluyas

Street vendors have organised successfully at the local level, but effective national organisation has proved more elusive

The paradox of virtual youth politics

A user-generated computer game developed by Jokowi’s team asks supporters to join Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla on impromptu visits - Generasi Optimis

Social media promotes political engagement among youth, but at the expense of accurate information and real-world political effects

Latest Articles

A generation of resistance

Jun 26, 2020 - IVO MATEUS GONCALVES

Students demonstrate at Santa Cruz cemetery, 12 November 1991 / Author

East Timor’s student movement and the struggle against oppression

Essay: Celebrating Imlek, Catholic style

Jun 22, 2020 - JOSH STENBERG

/ Josh Stenberg

Practices such as Imlek masses are a welcome example of tolerance and plurality

West Papua and Black Lives Matter

Jun 17, 2020 - SOPHIE CHAO

We are not monkeys / Twitter

A movement seeking justice, healing, and freedom for Black people has become a powerful rallying call for Indigenous West Papuans

Artists seek assistance

Jun 14, 2020 - RAHMADI FAJAR HIMAWAN

Several pesinden accompanying a wayang performance / Rahmadi Fajar Himawan

Javanese traditional musicians are among the many artists and performers struggling to survive, or qualify for government payments under COVID restrictions

A house of cards?

Jun 02, 2020 - YULIDA PANGASTUTI

ANTARA FOTO/Saiful Bahri/wsj

The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the exploitation of non-formal early childhood educators

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A selection of stories from the Indonesian classics and modern writers, periodically published free for Inside Indonesia readers, courtesy of Lontar