King and People are Inseparable: Proactive Constitutional Monarch in Parliamentary System

Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar accompanied by his son, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, greeting mosque congregants after Hari Raya prayers in 2018. Credit: BERNAMA Introduction The political system of a country is rarely the result of the conscious choice of the ordinary people, and sometimes it is not even determined by the elite. The establishment of …

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The Challenges of Preventing Online Radicalization of Indonesian Children during COVID-19

Children participating in burning their Indonesian passports in a screengrab of a propaganda video. Credit: BenarNews  Abstract Indonesian children face an increased risk of online radicalization during COVID-19. This commentary discusses the challenges to prevent such radicalization while proposing how the involvements of social influencers may be a step forward. Introduction The involvement of children …

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The “Economic Recovery First” Argument Behind the Omnibus Law: Misguided Policy Priorities during COVID-19 Pandemic

Protest in Makassar to reject the Omnibus Law in 2020. Credit: Antara/Arnas Padda Introduction Indonesia’s adoption of the Omnibus Law back in late October of this year despite strong concerns and rejection from communities highlights growing concerns that the Indonesian government seems to be out of touch with ongoing negative public sentiment caused by the …

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The Supply and Demand of Intolerance in Indonesia

Protests in Jakarta against its governor Basuki Purnama for alleged blasphemy. Credit: Barcroft Media via Getty Introduction For over a decade, religion continues to be integral to Indonesians. Since 2008, at least 90% of Indonesian respondents believed that religion is “very important” in their lives. In 2020, 98% of Indonesian respondents believed this to be …

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In Dire Need of Tougher Tobacco Control Regulations in Indonesia

An anti-smoking mural in Grobogan, Indonesia, in 2016. Credit: Antara Photo/Yusuf Nugroho Introduction Up till 2024, the regulation policies for tobacco control is unlikely to experience significant progress. This is despite tobacco consumption being a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Reasons include strong resistance and protest from the majority of parliamentary factions and …

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(Re)Framing the Tech War – A Strategy for the US

Blowbacks of a tech war between the US and China is dire for both parties. The upcoming US Presidential election is an opportune time for the US to reframe its strategy. Credit: TODAY/Raymond Limantara Special Commentary – US Presidential Election 2020 Introduction The tech-trade war against China has been a defining aspect of the current …

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Pressure Test in the Age of New Normal: Indonesia’s Pilkada 2020

Despite rising COVID-19 infections, Indonesia is set to conduct simultaneous regional elections in December 2020. Credit: SP/Muhammad Reza Introduction The concern that Indonesia’s 2020 simultaneous regional elections (Pemilihan Kepala Daerah 2020, hereafter Pilkada) will breed new COVID-19 clusters have become an increasingly regular topic as the government pushes on with its 9 December 2020 schedule. …

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Women in The Early Era of Terrorism in Indonesia

Previously, Indonesian women played limited roles in terrorism such as raising children. Credit: Armin Hari Indonesian Women & Terrorism: A Two-Part Analysis (Part 1) Since the start of terrorism in Indonesia, it was almost certain that the perpetrators of such violence were adult men. Women did not appear to be involved in violence perpetrated by …

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Key Roles of Businesses in Indonesia to Prevent Hateful Content in a COVID-19 Era

Businesses in Indonesia play an important role in preventing hateful content. Credit: Unsplash/Jon Tyson Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic does not simply entail deadly waves of infections, but also a rising wave of hate and misinformation towards specific groups and identities in Indonesia. Unfortunately, this rising wave will continue to be a heightened challenge during this …

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