Golkar Returns
For those familiar with Indonesian politics Golkar is the party synonymous with Indonesia’s economic development. More than a just a political party, Golkar was an amalgamation of various “functional groups” […]
Duane Gingerich’s Pivot: In Memoriam (1942-2016)
As President Obama prepares to receive most of Southeast Asia’s heads of state at the US-ASEAN Summit February 15-16 in Rancho Mirage I am thinking of a recently fallen friend […]
New Deregulation Package
Indonesia has released the second of three deregulation/stimulus packages designed to boost a flagging economy and strengthen the exchange rate. The first (released September 10) was primarily an exercise in […]
The Meaning of Banggai
August 7, 2015 President Jokowi traveled to the Banggai Regency in central Sulawesi this week to inaugurate the $5.8 billion “Pertamina Mega Integrated Project”, which is planned to match the […]
Idul Fitri Reshuffle
June 30, 2105 The serious Cabinet reshuffle rumors began in June: in Indonesia, they are part of the air one breaths. An underwhelming economic performance would prompt President Jokowi to […]
Soekarno’s Echo
Indonesia’s first President became so frustrated with the “West” that he famously declared ” go to hell with your aid”. A combination of the Cold War and misjudgments of Soekarno’s […]
The Value Added State
President Jokowi is likely to travel to the US for his first official visit to Washington in early June. President Obama no doubt wants to hear Indonesia’s President describe his […]
Outlook for 2015: Cautious Optimism
Commentary by Wayne Forrest Since taking office in October President Jokowi has not waited for Parliament, using his executive powers to reset Indonesia’s course. He is turning out to be […]
Parliament Votes to End Direct Elections: Twists and Turns
Politics in Indonesia is about to become a whole lot more interesting. Late last Friday while President SBY was in DC –after addressing the UN Global Climate Change Summit in NY–Indonesia’s […]
Where Are The Technocrats ?
I have been watching the rupiah flirt with 12,000, remembering 1998 time when it dropped from 2400 to 15,000, and the long period in 2010 and 2011 when it was […]