Backgrounder

Tenggara Backgrounder is a weekly briefing service combining insights and analysis by experts from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and Universitas Prasetiya Mulya, as well as background information from The Jakarta Post journalists. Tenggara Backgrounder provides you exclusive insights into what’s happening behind the scenes along with insider scoops that are not published in the media.

Preemployment card has potential, yet controversial

Tenggara Backgrounder March 22

Two months prior the general election, incumbent presidential candidate President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and his running mate Ma’ruf Amin introduced three new social program cards, namely Kartu Indonesia Pintar untuk Perguruan Tinggi, Kartu Sembako Murah and Kartu Pra-Kerja to be implemented if they win the presidential election.

How Indonesia pulls off the largest one-day election

Tenggara Backgrounder March 15

In 2014, Indonesia’s general election was already billed as the largest one-day election in the world.

NU takes stand for tolerance

Tenggara Backgrounder March 8

During its national consultation meeting and grand conference last week, Indonesia’s largest Islamic organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), displayed a strong stance for national unity. The group issued several recommendations, including a ban on the use of the word kafir (infidel), a limitation of fatwas (Islamic edicts), the adoption of Islam Nusantara (Islam of the archipelago), caution over the spread of hoaxes and encouragement of active public participation in the upcoming general elections.

Agrarian reform: Perpetual stagnation?

Tenggara Backgrounder March 1

The second presidential debate has brought to the fore one particular issue: agrarian reform. During the debate, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo claimed the massive infrastructure projects under his administration had been free from land disputes. Equally surprising was his revelation that his opponent Prabowo Subianto controlled hundreds of thousands of hectares of land in Aceh and East Kalimantan. The President’s statements summarized the underlying agrarian issues, namely longstanding land conflicts and the preponderance of land ownership among the elites.

It's time for airlines to lower air fares

Tenggara Backgrounder February 22

Air transportation users were surprised to find airfares remained relatively high in the middle of January and as late early February, despite the high season supposedly ending. Not only that, customers of courier companies also complained that their goods were delivered late to their destinations.

Conspiracy theories & foreign meddling in elections

Tenggara Backgrounder February 15

When President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Feb. 3 talked about the use of “Russian Propaganda” by the opposition in the presidential election campaign, he upset the Russian government more than he hurt the lone challenger, Prabowo Subianto, for the April 17 election.

Preemployment card has potential, yet controversial

How Indonesia pulls off the largest one-day election

NU takes stand for tolerance

Agrarian reform: Perpetual stagnation?

It's time for airlines to lower air fares

Conspiracy theories & foreign meddling in elections

Islamic groups ‘independent’ despite US, China overtures

Muhammadiyah, NU demand representatives in MPR

Development of new capital city to speed up in 2020

Wiranto resigns from Hanura Party following pressure

Jokowi asks for omnibus bylaws