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Ian Wilson @iwilson69.bsky.social · Aug 16

Why would a strongman government be rattled by a cartoon flag? Some comment for Aljazeera on the One Piece phenomenon and how it's triggered a deeper paranoia within the Prabowo administration www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/...

Indonesians raise anime pirate flag in protest as nation marks independence

A Japanese cartoon pirate flag has been raised across Indonesia as a sign of growing frustration with the government.

www.aljazeera.com

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Ian Wilson @iwilson69.bsky.social · Jul 1

A new piece on gangster populism in Prabowo's Indonesia
indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au/gangster-pop...

Gangster populism: political impediment or strategic asset for Prabowo?

Paramilitary mass organisations (ormas) have re-emerged in recent months as volatile high-profile actors, prompting concerns over the potential resurgence of informal coercive practices under Prabowo’...

indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au

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Reposted by Ian Wilson

Lia Sciortino @liasciortino.bsky.social · Mar 20

Worth re-reading last year article by @iwilson69.bsky.social
fulcrum.sg/an-election-...

An Election to End All Elections? | FULCRUM

Indonesia’s upcoming presidential and legislative elections will take place against a backdrop of increasing party and legislative buy-in to the idea of downsizing the scale of direct elections. Wh…

fulcrum.sg

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Ian Wilson @iwilson69.bsky.social · Mar 4

For those in Perth, on next week

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Ian Wilson @iwilson69.bsky.social · Mar 2

New article. Observing grassroots engagements with electoral politics I argue top-down polarization in Indonesia bares little resemblance to how identity is experienced in heterogeneous urban contexts,with marginal gropups engaging in polarisation strategically
bookshop.iseas.edu.sg/publication/...

SOJOURN: Journal of Social Issues in Southeast Asia Vol. 40/1 (March 2025) | ISEAS Publishing

SOJOURN is an interdisciplinary journal devoted to the study of social and cultural issues in Southeast Asia. It publishes empirical and theoretical research articles with a view to promoting and diss...

bookshop.iseas.edu.sg

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Ian Wilson @iwilson69.bsky.social · Jan 23

From the team that brought you halal coal mining, a religious rationalisation for bribes. www.cnnindonesia.com/nasional/202...

Ketua PBNU di DPR: Sogokan untuk yang Hak Dibolehkan Sebagian Ulama

Meski sebagaian ulama membolehkan. Ketua PBNU Ulil Abshar Abdalla berharap pendapat ini tidak dipakai karena bisa jadi celah bagi KPK bertindak.

www.cnnindonesia.com

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Ian Wilson @iwilson69.bsky.social · Jan 16

"Other states will have taken note."

Ian Wilson @iwilson69.bsky.social · Jan 16

"Drones will bomb your home, then burn you alive in the tent you set up to protect your family from the cold. Israel did all of these things to the people of Gaza while the leaders of the world looked on, and it did them with the full political and military support of the United States.

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Ian Wilson @iwilson69.bsky.social · Jan 16

"What Israel has done to Gaza may herald a new era of state violence with no rules and no crimes. Everything is permitted, and nothing will be prosecuted. No child is off-limits to the snipers. Missiles are programmed to home in on hospitals and doctors....
www.thenation.com/article/worl...

We Have a Ceasefire Deal, but This Isn’t the End

The widely reported agreement must hold. We haven’t begun to understand the full scope of the horrors Israel wrought. And Palestine is still not free.

www.thenation.com

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Ian Wilson @iwilson69.bsky.social · Jan 15

In 2019 Pemuda Pancasila and other ormas, backed by the police, collaborated to contain GRIB. Having consolidated and with their patron now president, GRIB will be pushing hard to expand recruit in new regions. Conflicts of this kind are likely to become more frequent.
www.detik.com/jateng/berit...

Ricuh Ormas PP Vs GRIB di Blora, Polisi: 12 Orang Luka

Polisi turun tangan terkait ricuh ormas Pemuda Pancasila (PP) dan Gerakan Rakyat Indonesia Bersatu (GRIB) Jaya di Blora. Polisi menyebut ada 12 korban luka.

www.detik.com

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Ian Wilson @iwilson69.bsky.social · Jan 10

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Ian Wilson @iwilson69.bsky.social · Dec 20

On the latest Talking Indonesia podcast I chat with Indo-Pacific Research Centre colleague Jacqui Baker on Indonesia's regional elections and shrinking parameters of contestation against a backdrop of elite calls for returns to direct appointments.
indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au/talking-indo...

Talking Indonesia: regional elections

In this week's episode, Dr Jacqui Baker chats with Dr Ian Wilson to assess what the regional elections round up tells us about how power is being reorganised in Indonesia today.

indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au

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Ian Wilson @iwilson69.bsky.social · Dec 18

As predicted, Prabowo has wasted no time in advocating for ending direct election of regional heads. Emphasis, here at least, placed on the 'financial burden' of elections in possible wedge of popular democracy vs his expensive populist programs, aka free lunch
www.cna.id/indonesia/ak...

Akhir dari Pilkada? Prabowo lempar usul Kepala Daerah dipilih DPRD

DPR pernah menghapuskan Pilkada langsung pada tahun 2014 namun gagal setelah protes besar dari masyarakat.

www.cna.id

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Reposted by Ian Wilson

The Australia Institute @australiainstitute.org.au · Dec 13

Today's announcement on nuclear is a distraction from Australia’s ongoing fossil fuel use and production.

It comes just one day after the approval of a 50 year extension to Australia’s largest fossil gas export plant – Woodside’s North West Shelf facility.

Nuclear costings are a distraction

Today's announcement on nuclear is a distraction from Australia’s ongoing fossil fuel use and production.

australiainstitute.org.au

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Ian Wilson @iwilson69.bsky.social · Dec 13

Prabowo's energetic approach to Indonesia's 'free active' foriegn policy may cause anxiety for Australian government & security elites yoked to US strategic interests and desire for hegemony in the region, even as the spectre of Trump unpredictability looms. Some coment for AJ.
aje.io/yf0exl

Indonesia’s Prabowo steers strategic middle path amid China, US rivalry

Indonesian President Prabowo heralds new focus on foreign policy, but balancing Beijing and Washington will continue.

aje.io

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Ian Wilson @iwilson69.bsky.social · Nov 30

History Indonesian I' by Slamet. Linocut print, 1994. Given to me by the artist in 1994 when he and other Indonesian left activists visited Perth, sponsored by Maritime Workers Union, for discussions on pro-East Timorese solidarity and the anti-Suharto struggle. Found it cleaning out an old locker.

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Ian Wilson @iwilson69.bsky.social · Nov 28

Looking like a first round victory to PDIP-backed candidate Pramono Anung in Jakarta's governor elections, but with the lowest election participation rates on record at just over 50% down from 72%+ in 2017. Similar low turnouts elsewhere aroind the country

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Ian Wilson @iwilson69.bsky.social · Nov 25

Out in Jakarta Bay. Over the past year, our research consortium has been working with communities in North Jakarta, Central Java, and Pari Island on the front line of the climate crisis, understanding its impacts on their lives, how they are adapting and the avenues for contesting damages and loss

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Ian Wilson @iwilson69.bsky.social · Nov 24

Seemingly unable to 'lengser keprabon madeg pandito', Jokowi continues to play politics campaigning for govt-backed candidates in Jakarta & Central Java. The result likely to be interpreted, in part, as reflection of his political shelf-life. Some comment for SCMP. www.scmp.com/week-asia/po...

‘Jokowi still wants action’: Indonesia polls a test of ex-leader’s clout

The country’s former president is back in the political spotlight campaigning for candidates in regional elections.

www.scmp.com

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Ian Wilson @iwilson69.bsky.social · Nov 21

thanks!

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Ian Wilson @iwilson69.bsky.social · Nov 21

Indonesia's regional elections will be its largest to date. Constitutional court rulings in August supported a diverse electoral landscape however cartel-like party coalitions and deal-making have operated to constrain the parameters of contestation. Some comment:
www.iseas.edu.sg/articles-com...

2024/97 “More Competition, Less Opposition: Indonesia’s 2024 Regional Elections” by Ian Wilson

Indonesia’s regional elections scheduled for 27 November will be the largest in the nation’s history and the first to extend to all the country’s provinces, regencies and cities.

www.iseas.edu.sg

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Ian Wilson @iwilson69.bsky.social · Nov 20

The Indonesian version of my politics of protection racket book has just been reprinted by MarjinKiri. Lots on the background of Indonesia's new president, and his network of gangs and gangsters. Hoping to make progress on new book on politics of coercion next year
marjinkiri.id/product/poli...

Politik Jatah Preman: Ormas dan Kuasa Jalanan di Indonesia Pasca Orde Baru - Marjin Kiri

Didasarkan pada riset lapangan yang intens dan panjang, buku ini menyuguhkan analisis komprehensif mengenai hubungan yang berubah antara kelompok-kelompok preman dengan pihak berwenang dan kekuasaan p...

marjinkiri.id

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Reposted by Ian Wilson

Adrian Vickers @avick.bsky.social · Nov 19

go.bsky.app/VEkiiYW

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Ian Wilson @iwilson69.bsky.social · Nov 16

Belum ketemu Prabowo/Jokowi, belum bisa dianggap calon pemenang, kata Bahlil.

antaranews.com @antara-poster.bsky.social · Nov 16

Bahlil nilai pertemuan Pram-Rano dengan Anies tak ada yang istimewa - https://www.antaranews.com/berita/4470633/bahlil-nilai-pertemuan-pram-rano-dengan-anies-tak-ada-yang-istimewa

Bahlil nilai pertemuan Pram-Rano dengan Anies tak ada yang istimewa

Ketua Umum Partai Golkar Bahlil Lahadalia menilai pertemuan antara Pasangan Calon Gubernur dan Wakil Gubernur DKI Jakarta Pramono Anung-Rano Karno dan mantan ...

www.antaranews.com

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Reposted by Ian Wilson

Ken Mathis Lohatepanont @kenlmathis.bsky.social · Nov 15

Still looking for Southeast Asia watchers to add to my SEA Starter Pack! bsky.app/starter-pack...

Tom Pepinsky @tompepinsky.com · Nov 14

Could Starter Packs be used to reverse-engineer Bluesky communities that don't yet exist?

1. create an empty starter pack for, say, Southeast Asian Politics
2. invite people to express interest in that community by requesting to join
3. presto, a curated audience, incentivizing content creation

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