Indonesia’s democratic masses brought victory to Jokowi

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Joko Widodo, Indonesia’s president elect, is a paradox. Better known as Jokowi, he stands out as extraordinary among politicians in Indonesia and beyond, for being so ordinary (and comfortably so) in appearance, speech and background.

Heryanto, Ariel (2014) “Indonesia’s democratic masses brought victory to Jokowi”, The Conversation, 23 July 2014.
https://theconversation.com/indonesias-democratic-masses-brought-victory-to-jokowi-29569

keywords: Conversation, democracy, Indonesia, international commentators, Joko Widodo, masses

The 1965-6 killings: facts and fictions in dangerous liaisons

2012_IIAS_61 The 1965-1966 killings-c

Heryanto, Ariel (2012) “The 1965-6 killings: facts and fictions in dangerous liaisons”, IIAS Newsletter, 61 (Autumn): 16-17, http://www.iias.nl/the-newsletter/article/1965-1966-killings-facts-and-fictions-dangerous-liaisons

keywords: 1965 killings, documentary, ethics, film, history, IIAS Newsletter, review, The Act of Killing, truth

Know Indonesia, know thyself

click 2012_05_22_THE INTERPRETER Know Indonesia, know thyself-c

“You cannot say you have mastered a new language if you have not discovered a brand new world, and your new self in it, through the experience of learning it.”

Heryanto, Ariel (2012) “Know Indonesia, know thyself”, The Interpreter (Lowy Institute), 22 May 2012, http://www.lowyinterpreter.org/post/2012/05/22/Know-Indonesia-know-thyself.aspx

keywords: Australia, Indonesian studies, Interpreter, language, self-discovery, utilitarianism

Pop Islam in Indonesia

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The popularity of the Indonesian film Ayat-ayat Cinta (Verses of Love) is an illustration of what Pop Islam may look like. This was one of the first Indonesian films to feature a female protagonist who is nearly fully veiled. Many considered it as one of the most Islamic films. A polygamous marriage that features in the film heightened the already intense controversy on the new campaigns for polygamy.

Heryanto, Ariel (2010) “Pop Islam in Indonesia”, Asia Current, February 2010,
http://asaa.asn.au/asian-currents-html-archives/2010/asian-currents-10-02.html

keywords: Asia Current, Ayat-ayat Cinta, hybrid, intra-Asia, Pop Islam

Islamist parties try to be less Islamist

2008_06_07_TJP Islamist parties try to be less Islamist-c

“Cognizant of its credential deficit in both Islamic politics and democracy, successive governments have felt compelled to demonstrate sympathetic gesture to the Muslim communities, sometimes stronger than actually believed.

With abundant Islam credentials in hand, never at any time did Wahid need to prove that he was pro-Islam. So much so that he could afford to demonstrate the opposite. Instead of calling for jihad against the enemies of Islam, Wahid did almost the extreme opposite.”

Heryanto, Ariel (2008) “Islamist parties try to be less Islamist”, The Jakarta Post, 07/06/2008.

See also: “When governments try to look more Islamic”

keywords: Gus Dur, Islamization, Jakarta Post, PKS, political parties, UMNO

When governments try to look more Islamic

2008_06_06_TJP When governments try to look more Islamic-c

“The Indonesian Constitution stipulates freedom of expression, but to date such freedom can only take refuge on the Internet.

Today, the Internet is the only public space where hundreds of thousands of Indonesians can and have actually declared themselves to be religiously ‘liberal’, ‘atheist’ or ‘agnostic’ in their profiles on cyber social networking sites such as Facebook.”

Heryanto, Ariel (2008) “When governments try to look more Islamic”, The Jakarta Post, 06/06/2008.

See also “Islamist parties try to be less Islamist”

keywords: government, ICMI, Indonesia, Islam, Jakarta Post, Soeharto