Dreams of Scale: From Koperasi Merah Putih to Hedge Funds and IPOs
Atmaezer H. Simanjuntak | 9 February 2026
Cooperatives are making a comeback. This time, they are coloured in red and white. The government’s Koperasi Merah Putih (Red and White Cooperative) promises to revive Indonesia’s long-standing ideal of small-scale collective enterprise while ushering them into a new financial age. But behind the patriotic palette lies a different ambition: to make rural poverty investible, turning what was once a bottom-up solidarity model into something treated as an investible asset…. [Read more]
Red Earth, Green Lies: Oil Palm, Debt, and Socio-Ecological Calamity
Atmaezer H. Simanjuntak | 4 February 2026
“Sometimes,” Baso said quietly, reminiscing about his untended oil palm plot now overtaken by weeds, “this grant feels no different than being forced into debt, especially if it’s your first time planting.” For four years, he has helped manage a seventy-two-hectare replanting scheme shared among members of his smallholder group. The grant, promised as renewal, arrived only after years of waiting and endlessly shifting requirements…. [Read more]
Jangan Minta Rakyat Bersyukur Cuaca Membaik, Kalau Deforestasi dan Eksploitasi Alam Terus Dibiarkan
Sofyan Ansori, Atmaezer H. Simanjuntak, and Perdana Roswaldy | 4 December 2025
The government’s response to the flash floods in Sumatra has been deeply disappointing. In the process of writing this article, floods and landslides in Sumatra have killed 753 people, left 650 missing, and injured 2,600. Despite this, the central government has yet to declare a national disaster…. [Read more]
Jokowi’s dynasty-building risks tensions with his PDI-P party base
Yoes Kenawas | 22 October 2023
The appointment of Kaesang as PSI chairman — and the increasing possibility of Gibran being appointed as Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto’s running mate following the Court’s decision — can be seen as part of a plan to keep the Jokowi dynasty in a position of influence after 2024. Dynastic politics necessitates meticulous succession planning, and Kaesang’s accession and the Court’s ruling are necessary steps towards achieving this objective…. [Read more]
Indonesian Youth Need to Up Climate Game for the 2024 Elections
Muhammad Fajar and Aninda Dewayanti | 13 June 2023
Youth organisations in Indonesia have attracted some attention to climate change issues. But they need to widen their reach into the country’s political parties to drive their green agenda forward…. [Read more]
Indonesian universities are still slow in implementing anti-sexual violence measures. Here are 4 ways to speed things up
Sabina Puspita and Muhammad Fajar | 8 March 2023
The global fight against sexual violence in the higher education sector has seen important progress in the last decade, with collaboration from students, faculty and government serving as an important factor in combating patriarchy in academia…. [Read more]