How to kill a democracy
Today, millions of Indonesians may be able to vote, but the substantive rights typically accorded to citizens of a democracy are far from guaranteed, notes Krithika Varagur, the author of The Call:… Read more »
Category: Indonesia
Indo-Pacific the most vital region for enhancing democratic partnership
The Indo-Pacific is quickly becoming the most important region for democracy support activities, as it embodies both growing support for democracy and recent evidence of backsliding, according to a new… Read more »
Do Southeast Asia elections signal a consolidation of illiberal rule?
Since the fall of the Indonesian dictator Suharto in 1998, civil society has flourished under the country’s burgeoning democracy. Observers even began calling Indonesia the most democratic nation in… Read more »
Japan & South Korea should ‘lead the charge’ for democracy in Asia, but….
Japan and South Korea should lead the charge for democracy in Asia, argues Hudson Institute analyst John Lee. But recent developments cast doubt on that prospect. In a rational world,… Read more »
‘Dangerous backsliding’: radicals use Indonesia’s democracy to undermine it
Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo and former military general Prabowo Subianto will face off in a presidential election on Wednesday (Nikkei/CFR), with official results expected take up to a month to… Read more »
Tensions in Indonesia: ‘resilient elections, defective democracy’?
On the eve of historic elections, a conundrum lies at the heart of Indonesian politics. Successive governments have built one of the most important foundations of a successful democracy: free,… Read more »
Violent Extremism in Indonesia: Vulnerabilities and Sources of Resilience
The recent suicide bombings in Surabaya, Indonesia highlight the country’s continued struggle with radicalism and terrorism. Claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS), these attacks typify… Read more »
Can Indonesia help advance Middle East democracy?
A new factor has been inserted into the equation of political reform in Egypt: a dialogue between Egypt and Indonesia on promoting democracy, notes Giora Eliraz, the author of Islam in Indonesia:… Read more »
Do Asia’s autocrats outperform democrats?
While authoritarian regimes can show brief flashes of brilliance (remember Sputnik), they’ve proven again and again incapable of sustaining the creativity and innovation necessary for long-term economic success, analyst Michael… Read more »
Rise of Islamism in Malaysia and Indonesia jeopardizing democratic gains?
The rise of Islamism in Malaysia and Indonesia could have severe consequences for the two states’ societies, political systems, and overall stability, says a leading analyst. Malaysia’s prime minister, Najib… Read more »