#Indonesia

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When Soldiers Became Jurists: The Legal Origins of Indonesia’s Authoritarianism

How did Indonesia’s military learn to rule through law? This essay argues that a “military-juridical nexus” between civilian jurists and army officers in the 1950s built the legal foundations of authoritarianism—transforming emergency powers into durable institutions that continue to shape Indonesia’s civil–military relations today.

11.03.2026

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New Order’s Authoritarian Legacies and Indonesia’s Democratic Decline: A Reassessment

By 2025, Indonesia has been a electorally democratic polity for over a quarter of a century since the collapse of the authoritarian New Order regime (1966-1998) in 1998. Yet, rather than consolidating democratic institutions, the country has entered a slow but discernible trajectory of democratic backsliding—what scholars of comparative politics term a process of “autocratization.” This democratic regression has been most visible during the latter years of President Joko Widodo’s administration and the state’s repressive handling of recent civil society protests in major Indonesian cities is one of its manifestation.

3.03.2026

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Citizens Protect Citizens: Indonesia’s Ethics of Democratic Care

While Indonesia’s government dismissed recent protests, this op-ed argues they are a powerful, decentralized movement with deep historical roots. Defined by a profound ethic of citizen care - “Warga Jaga Warga,” - a new generation is fighting back against a democracy they feel has been corrupted by ruling elites.

30.09.2025