Indonesian politics

Universal Autobiography

Makbuk Mubarak’s film Autobiography is a brilliant (and beautiful) exploration of Indonesia’s addiction to feudalism. But if you substitute class or corporate interests for the role of the Indonesian military, it becomes a univeral tale.


Don’t make martyrs of religious-themed thugs: lessons from Egypt

Welcome to 2018, which will doubtless be a year of political speculation ahead of the 2019 presidential elections. I spent New Year’s Day kayaking down the Nile. (Off-topic alert: if you’re looking for a truly fabulous holiday that combines decent exercise in great landscapes with a good dollop of ancient culture, check out the Nile Kayak Club’s trips from Aswan to Luxor.) While paddling, I chatted with newly-met Egyptian friends about the pariah status of the Moslem Brotherhood, which is…