Events

CHAIRPERSON

Dr Joshua Samuel Gedacht, Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore

ABSTRACT

Does the rise of Jokowi mean a new era for Indonesian politics in which the authority of oligarchy and the party juggernauts that represent their power will be replaced? And does it mean that Indonesia’s political future is not to be found in a vibrant and liberal form of democracy is emerging with its apparatus of individual rights and rule of law, but in some form of populist political transformation. There are various types of populism but they usually involve a system where parties and the established institutions of government and entrenched elites are bypassed and where charismatic leaders appeal directly to popular forces. This often involves not only a new type of politics but also new policies that emphasise redistribution of wealth. There have been some precedents for this type of political transformation, successful or not, in Latin America, in the case of Thaksin Shinawarat in Thailand and in Turkey where Erdrogan had a similar background to Jokowi. Can we say that populism is transforming Indonesia under Jokowi or whether he is being absorbed by entrenched forces? Or are different forms of populism emerging that will compete with Jokowi’s brand?

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Richard Robison is Emeritus Professor at Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia. He has previously been Professor of Asian and International Politics at Murdoch and Professor of Political Economy at the IISS in The Hague, Netherlands. His main publications include, Indonesia: The Rise of Capital (1986), Reorganising Power in Indonesia: Oligarchy and Markets (2004 with Vedi Hadiz). More recently he has written on political economy and Islamic politics (New Political Economy 2012) and Oligarchy in Indonesia (Indonesia 2013 with Vedi Hadiz).

REGISTRATION

Admission is free. We would greatly appreciate if you RSVP to Ms Tay Minghua via email: minghua.tay@nus.edu.sg.