Finance, Debt, and Socio-Ecological Transformation in Contemporary Southeast Asia
Finance is often treated as an abstract sphere of banks, markets, and formal institutions, yet its force lies precisely in how deeply it penetrates everyday life, shaping livelihoods, environments, and the horizons through which people endure uncertainty and imagine the future. This research stream examines how finance, debt, and development interventions both drive and are reproduced through rapid socio-ecological change in contemporary Southeast Asia. We are primarily concerned with tracing how financial relations mediate unequal exchange across scales, from land, labor, and households, to corporations, states, and global capital. Our work explores how these dynamics intersect with agrarian restructuring, energy transition agendas, and the climate crisis, and how they intensify existing inequalities. Current work includes research on oil palm plantations and biodiesel as sites where debt, land governance, and speculative futures converge, alongside research on the labor and temporal consequences of the state-driven shift to electric vehicles in Southeast Asia’s urban ride-hailing sector. By approaching finance as an entangled material process, power relation, and lived experience, the Institute seeks to advance critical understanding of contemporary transformation and contribute to more just futures.
Exploring the dynamics of organization and understanding society using organizational perspectives
In the fast-paced world of today, organizations are the backbone of our daily lives. We rely on them for countless needs, from the workplace that provides our livelihoods to the institutions that shape our communities. Understanding the complexities of organizations is not only beneficial but essential. IFAR Atma Jaya pursues research that gain a deep understanding of the multifaceted nature of organizations in our society. It delves into a wide range of topics, from diverse paradigms within organizational studies to issues of participation, identity, history, and even the intersection of organizations with politics, social movements, and gender dynamics.
The politics of development in contemporary Indonesia
Despite numerous development initiatives, systemic inequalities persist in contemporary Indonesia. This situation raises critical questions about the politics of development and inequality. Recognizing this complex challenge, IFAR Atma Jaya pursues innovative research to understand why inequalities persist despite development. Our interdisciplinary approach examines how culture, economics, knowledge systems, collective memory, democracy, and power struggles at various societal levels intersect and shape one another within the context of development. By analyzing the structural factors and power dynamics that perpetuate inequality despite development initiatives, IFAR Atma Jaya aims to identify inclusive development pathways that equitably improve livelihoods and social justice. Comprehending the disjuncture between development and inequality, as well as examining the politics of development through innovative social science and public policy research, will be vital for promoting a fair and equitable society in Indonesia.