Indonesia

commentary

Biden's Southeast Asia Policy Improves in Second Year, but Still Much to Do

In 2022, the Biden administration stepped up its game in Southeast Asia by showing up in person, clarifying its approach in key strategy documents, and boosting cooperation. But one obvious problem that remains is that it still has no real economic strategy to counter China in the region.

Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman

commentary

Indonesia Is Looking for More Than Security Support from the United States

Rather than remain aloof from the new great power competition between the United States and China, Indonesia has quietly, albeit determinedly, favored relations with Washington, though in reality, it does not have much of a choice.

Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman

commentary

Indonesia Is Quietly Warming Up to China

Improving China-Indonesia relations could have profound geostrategic significance for the United States. Washington may want to focus on assistance that would benefit Indonesia itself, not just the United States in its competition with China.

Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman

commentary

Are Counter Violent Extremism Interventions Effective?

Government efforts to counter the propaganda and radicalization that lead to violent extremism are becoming more common around the world, but there's little research on whether such programs work. It is critical to conduct more research to tease out which programs are most effective.

Todd C. Helmus @Helmus, Elizabeth Bodine-Baron @bodinebaron

commentary

Why Is China Pressing Indonesia Again Over Its Maritime Claims?

China sparked a major maritime confrontation with Indonesia near the South China Sea in December when dozens of Chinese fishing vessels, along with a coast guard escort, entered waters off the Natuna Islands. What drove Beijing to stake out its sovereignty claims against Indonesia at this particular time? And what can Indonesia and other regional neighbors expect of Chinese behavior going forward?

Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman

commentary

Uncovering the Links Between Fires and Public Health in Equatorial Asia

Fires in Indonesia, if left unchecked, could cause an average of 36,000 premature deaths annually across Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. Researchers built a tool that models the effect of the fires on public health.

Miriam E. Marlier

commentary

Southeast Asia Loves ISIS, but Is the Feeling Mutual?

As the ISIS core in Iraq and Syria attempts to rebuild, Baghdadi and his lieutenants will have to make difficult decisions about where to allocate resources. Now that the caliphate is gone and ISIS must transform into an insurgency, the largely untested lands of Southeast Asia may yield rich rewards.

Zachary Abuza, Colin P. Clarke

commentary

We Built an App to Detect Areas Most Vulnerable to Life-Threatening Haze

Forest and land-use fires are ravaging Indonesia's Sumatra and Kalimantan islands. Haze from these fires is life-threatening; inhaling smoke can cause heart and respiratory diseases, leading to premature deaths. We developed a new tool to provide decisionmakers with information to protect people who live downwind.

Tianjia Liu, Miriam E. Marlier, et al.

commentary

What Jokowi’s Reelection Means for Indonesia

On April 17, Indonesia conducted the largest single-day vote in any nation's history. President Joko Widodo has likely netted a second term. What does that mean for his nation and its place in the world?

Jonah Blank

commentary

Assessing Recent Developments in Indonesian Maritime Security

Despite a daunting set of maritime challenges, Indonesia has placed renewed emphasis on maritime security governance. While the programs in place may take decades to bear fruit, Indonesia is on the path to securing the waterways and infrastructure so key to its overall economic development.

Lyle J. Morris

commentary

Indonesia-China Tensions in the Natuna Sea: Evidence of Naval Efficacy Over Coast Guards?

The notion that Southeast Asian countries should employ coast guards instead of navies to enforce maritime laws had been gaining currency. But many of the coast guard fleets lack sufficient capacity to deal with the threats along their coast and in disputed waters in the South China Sea.

Lyle J. Morris

commentary

Matching and Migration: Lessons from a Resettlement Programme in Indonesia

With careful planning, resettlement remains a feasible and politically attractive option for coping with environmentally-induced migration in many settings. The lessons from Indonesia's Transmigration program can help inform ongoing resettlement planning.

Alexander D. Rothenberg, Samuel Bazzi, et al.

commentary

From Glasgow to Kashmir

Scotland's vote could be a step toward disrupting the historical pattern of independence being won by force, not granted after a vote. This was the paradigm of the past, and it remains the paradigm of the present. But the vote in Scotland just might help set a new roadmap for the future.

Jonah Blank

commentary

Good Guy Gamble: What to Expect from Indonesia's Jokowi

The preliminary verdict of Indonesia's presidential election suggests that nice guys can finish first. That could be good news for Indonesia, Southeast Asia, the United States, and the world. But that comes with two big caveats: The initial results must be confirmed by the final tally, and the losing candidate must accept that he has lost.

Jonah Blank

blog

China's ASEAN Outreach

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for greater cooperation between his country and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during remarks delivered Oct. 3 before the Indonesian parliament. But Angel Rabasa, a RAND senior political scientist, says improved relations between China and its neighbors will depend more on action than on words.

commentary

Asia's Nonproliferation Laggards: China, India, Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia

The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction ranks as one of the biggest challenges facing the Obama administration. Luckily, Mr. Obama has a tool to combat this threat, in the form of the Proliferation Security Initiative.... The trick now will be to convince key Asian countries to participate, writes Charles Wolf Jr.

Charles Wolf, Jr.

commentary

Indonesia as a Test Case

Published commentary by RAND staff.

Angel Rabasa

commentary

Moderates Against Extremists

Published commentary by RAND staff.

Angel Rabasa

commentary

Stop Snubbing Indonesia's Military

Published commentary by RAND staff.

Angel Rabasa

commentary

Working Together: Megawati and the Terrorists

Published commentary by RAND staff

Angel Rabasa