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Indonesia Programme

One of RSIS’ earliest research efforts, the Indonesia Programme studies current developments and a wide range of key issues in the archipelago, including, military and security affairs, foreign policy and issues relating role as a regional power, political Islam and Islamic movements as well as national and local politics—especially the impact of decentralisation in the Riau region.

The diversity of research backgrounds in the Programme maximises the potential for cross-disciplinary work on the problems of contemporary Indonesia. Aside from numerous research and publications, the Programme also engages in a variety of networking and teaching activities. The course “State and Politics in Modern Indonesia” is taught regularly as part of the Master’s degree in Asian Studies.

The Indonesia Programme also promotes graduate and professional education for Indonesia’s prospective policy makers, both in the national and regional level. In addition, the Programme also established links with the Indonesian Defence University for research and student exchange collaborations.

The Programme’s networking events have included high-profile conferences relating to political developments at the national and local levels. The programme also publishes the Riau Bulletin that dissects key local developments in Riau Archipelago. At the national level, the Programme-organized public seminars have brought key political actors in Indonesia to Singapore—including former Presidents Megawati Sukarnoputri, Abdurrahman Wahid, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, as well as a whole host of emerging leaders and opinion makers from various sectors.

Through various research, networking, and teaching activities, the Programme has not only served as a platform for networking between the Singapore policy community and the emerging political elites in Indonesia, but also seeks to collaborate with Indonesian scholars for both academic and policy relevant research in the process deepening mutual understanding and forging closer friendships between the two neighbours.

 

Recent Publications

2022

  1. Dedi Dinarto. “Can Bakamla be at the Forefront of Indonesia’s Natuna Sea Strategy?” IDSS Paper, 14 January 2022.
  2. Keoni Marzuki and Adhi Priamarizki. “What’s Behind Indonesia’s Choice of F-15, Rafale and Its Implications,” The Jakarta Post, 18 January 2022.
  3. Alexander Arifianto. “Nahdlatul Ulama’s New Chair Faces a Difficult Choice: Political Neutrality or Patronage,” Indonesia at Melbourne, 18 January 2022
  4. Jefferson Ng. “The Rise of Nusantara: New Capital, New Strategic Outlook?” RSIS Commentaries, 24 January 2022.
  5. Alexander R. Arifianto. “Towards ‘Humanitarian Islam’: New Nahdlatul Ulama Chairman and the Global Initiative to Promote Religious Moderation,” IDSS Paper, 26 January 2022.
  6. Jefferson Ng. “Indonesia Israel Relations: Is a Breakthrough Imminent?” The Diplomat, 31 January 2022.
  7. Jefferson Ng. “Indonesia Parliament to Scrutinise Bilateral Agreements with Singapore,” The Diplomat, 10 February 2022.
  8. Keoni Marzuki and Adhi Priamarizki. “Ukraine-Russia Crisis: Its Strategic Implications for Indonesia,” The Jakarta Post, 2 March 2022.
  9. Jefferson Ng. “Nusantara Capital Plans to Carve Out Jokowi’s Legacy,” East Asia Forum, 18 March 2022.

 

2021

  1. Adhi Priamarizki and Sigit Nugroho. “TNI Involvement in COVID-19 Management: Lessons Learned,” The Jakarta Post, 12 April 2021
  2. Alexander Arifianto. “Jokowi’s Sixth Reshuffle: Securing His Legacy?” RSIS Commentary, 30 April 2021
  3. Adhi Priamarizki. “Indonesia’s Military Still Preoccupied with Internal Security,” East Asia Forum, 4 June 2021.
  4. Dedi Dinarto. “The Security Challenges Facing Indonesia’s Submarine Cable Communication System,” The Diplomat, 5 June 2021.
  5. Adhi Priamarizki. “Indonesia’s Arms Procurement and US-China Global Competition,” The Jakarta Post, 7 June 2021.
  6. Dedi Dinarto. “Why Indonesia’s Province Nearest to Singapore Struggles with COVID-19,” TODAY Online, 24 June 2021.
  7. Alexander Arifianto and Yohanes Sulaiman. “US-Indonesia Relations Needs a Reboot,” East Asia Forum, 28 June 2021.
  8. Sigit S. Nugroho. “Urgent Lesson from Indonesia’s Submarine Disaster,” East Asia Forum, 30 June 2021.
  9. Jefferson Ng and Dedi Dinarto. “How Lithium-Ion Batteries Will Shape Indonesia’s Relations with the US, China” South China Morning Post, 7 July 2021.
  10. Alexander Arifianto. “Indonesia’s new Lockdown: Jokowi’s Legacy?” RSIS Commentary, 13 July 2021.
  11. Alexander Arifianto. “Indonesia’s Coronavirus Crisis Will Define President Joko Widodo’s Legacy as Cases Surge”, South China Morning Post, 14 July 2021.
  12. Emirza Adi Syailendra and Leonard C Sebastian, “The Unspoken: Indonesia Navigates Great Power Rivalry,” IDSS Paper, 22 October 2021.
  13. Emirza Adi Syailendra and Leonard C Sebastian, “Indonesia’s Shifting Redlines on Regional Security,” East Asia Forum, 7 December 2021.
  14. Dedi Dinarto and Gerardus Yosari, “How Indonesia and Singapore Can Deepen Their Renewable Energy Cooperation,” The Diplomat, 3 December 2021.
  15. Keoni Marzuki and Adhi Priamarizki, “Nominating a Panglima TNI: Between Organisational Needs and Politics,” IDSS Paper, 5 October 2021.
  16. Leonard C Sebastian and Syed Huzaifah Bin Othman Alkaff, “The Infiltration of Jemaah Islamiyah into Indonesian State and Society,” IDSS Paper, 23 December 2021.
  17. Gerardus Yosari, “Can Indonesia Sustain Its Covid-19 Recovery Targets?” East Asia Forum, 23 November 2021.
  18. Jefferson Ng, “A Litmus Test for Coalitional Dynamics: The Constitutional Court Ruling on Indonesia’s Omnibus Law on Job Creation,” IDSS Paper (7 December 2021,
  19. Jefferson Ng, “How Indonesia’s Defence Ministry Has Changed under Prabowo Subianto,” The Diplomat. 22 October 2021.

 

2020

  1. Alexander Arifianto. “Global Health Security: COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia: Government Response and Politics,” RSIS Commentary, 2 April 2020.
  2. Made Ayu Mariska. “Global Health Security – COVID-19 and Its Impacts: Is Indonesia Ready?” RSIS Commentary, 15 April 2020.
  3. Chaula Anindya, “The Philippine and Indonesian Militaries War on COVID-19, and What It Means for Reform,” Pacnet Commentary No. 21, 15 April 2020.
  4. Chaula Anindya and Sigit S. Nugroho. “Global Health Security: COVID-19 and Its Impacts – Jokowi’s War on Pandemic: Growing Dependence on TNI?” RSIS Commentary, 11 May 2020.
  5. Tiola. “New Joint Command Faces First Test under COVID-19” The Jakarta Post, 20 May 2020.
  6. Dedi Dinarto and Titi Anggarini. “Global health Security: COVID-19 and Its Impacts – Indonesia’s Regional Elections: Entering Uncharted Waters.” RSIS Commentary, 21 May 2020.
  7. Alexander Arifianto and Jonathan Chen. “Global Health Security: COVID-19 and Its Impacts – Indonesia’s Islamic Charities: Plugging Gaps in Economic Relief,” RSIS Commentary, 19 June 2020.
  8. Muhammad Arif and Sigit Nugroho. “Global health Security: COVID-19 and Its Impacts – Bapakism in Jokowi’s Pandemic Handling: The Cultural Dimension,” RSIS Commentary, 29 June 2020.
  9. Alexander Arifianto and Jefferson Ng. “Pancasila Guidance Bill: Tweaking Indonesia’s Ideology?” RSIS Commentary, 8 July 2020.
  10. Alexander Arifianto. “Religious Power Brokers and Growing Intolerance in Indonesia,” Religion and Global Society: A London School of Economics (LSE) Blog, 18 August 2020.
  11. Jefferson Ng and Sigit S. Nugroho. “Challenges in Enhancing Indonesia’s Domestic Security,” The Jakarta Post, 13 October 2020.
  12. Jefferson Ng and Dedi Dinarto. “Commentary: Why the Singapore-Indonesia Reciprocal Green Lane is Necessary,” Channel News Asia, 26 October 2020.
  13. Tiola and Dedi Dinarto. “The Natuna Standoff: Transcending Fisheries Issues?” The Diplomat, 5 November 2020.
  14. Alexander Arifianto. “Indonesian Ulema Council Edges Closer to the Centre of Power,” East Asia Forum, 9 December 2020.
  15. Alexander Arifianto. “Indonesia’s New Parties: Evolving Conservative Landscape?” RSIS Commentary, 19 December 2020.

 

2019

  1. Alexander Arifianto. “Indonesian Presidential Election 2019 – Joko Widodo: Vulnerable Despite Strong Incumbency,” RSIS Commentary, 11 January 2019.
  2. Alexander Arifianto. “Indonesian Presidential Election 2019 – Prabowo Subianto: Reluctant Yet Strong Contender,” RSIS Commentary, 14 January 2019.
  3. Jonathan Chen, “Indonesian Presidential Election 2019 – Politics at the Periphery: The ‘Outer Island’ Phenomenon, RSIS Commentary, 1 February 2019.
  4. Dedi Dinarto. “Indonesian Presidential Election 2019 – Jokowi’s Chances in Post-Kalla South Sulawesi,” RSIS Commentary, 15 February 2019.
  5. Keoni Marzuki and Chaula Anindya, “Indonesian Presidential Election 2019 – West Java: Tough Fight in Key Battle Ground” RSIS Commentary, 20 March 2019.
  6. Alexander Raymond Arifianto and Jonathan Chen, “Indonesian Presidential Election 2019 – East Java: Deadheat in a Battleground Province” RSIS Commentary, 27 March 2019.
  7. Andar Nubowo and Jefferson Ng, “Presidential Election 2019 – The Three Streams Facing Indonesian Muslims: Pulls of Politics,” RSIS Commentary, 5 April 2019.
  8. Made Ayu Mariska, “Indonesian Presidential Election 2019 – Golput and Its Implications” RSIS Commentary, 10 April 2019.
  9. Jonathan Chen, “One Party’s Lonely Battle for Minority Voices in Indonesia,” The Conversation, 15 April 2019.
  10. Irman Lanti, “Indonesian Presidential Election 2019 – What Will Happen After the Polls?” RSIS Commentary, 15 April 2019.
  11. Irman Lanti, “Indonesian Presidential Election 2019 – The Big Battle for Java: Key in Struggle for Power,” RSIS Commentary, 15 April 2019.
  12. Leonard Sebastian, “Presidential Election 2019 – Too Close to Call: Whoever Wins, Must Win Decisively,” RSIS Commentary, 17 April 2019.
  13. Alexander Arifianto, “Indonesian Presidential Election 2019 – After the Big Fight: Results and Implications,” RSIS Commentary, 22 April 2019.
  14. Irman Lanti, “Indonesian Presidential Election 2019 – The Big Struggle for Java: Key in Struggle for Power,” RSIS Commentary, 23 April 2019.
  15. Alexander Arifianto, “Indonesian Presidential Election 2019 – The New Indonesian Parliament: Who Won and What It Means” RSIS Commentary, 7 May 2019.
  16. Adri Wanto and Leonard Sebastian, “Indonesian Presidential Election 2019 – Sarungan vs Cingkrangan: Elections & Contestations within Indonesian Islam,” RSIS Commentary, 28 May 2019.
  17. Syafiq Hasyim, “Post-Presidential Election 2019 – Indonesia’s Shariatisation Agenda: Where is MUI Headed?” RSIS Commentary, 18 June 2019.
  18. Adhi Priamarizki, “Bolstering TNI Readiness, Civil-Military Cooperation for Disaster Relief,” The Jakarta Post, 21 October 2019.
  19. Adhi Priamarizki, “TNI’s 2019 Joint Exercise: Adding More Fire Power,” RSIS Commentary, 20 November 2019.

 

Programme Staff

Dr Leonard C. Sebastian
Associate Professor
Coordinator, Indonesia Programme, IDSS
DID: +65 6790 4402
Email: [email protected]

Dr Alexander Arifianto
Research Fellow
Indonesia Programme, IDSS
DID: +65 6908 1430
Email: [email protected]

Dr Adhi Priamarizki
Research Fellow
Indonesia Programme, IDSS
DID: +65 6790 6625
Email: [email protected]

Mr Syed Huzaifah Bin Othman Alkaff
Associate Research Fellow
Indonesia Programme, IDSS
DID: +65 6514 8387
Email: [email protected]

Mr Jefferson Ng Jin Chuan
Associate Research Fellow
Indonesia Programme, IDSS
DID: +65 6513 2038
Email: [email protected]

Visiting Fellows

Dr Irman Lanti
Visiting Fellow (6 November 2023 to 5 February 2024)
Indonesia Programme, IDSS
Email: [email protected]