Pak Pram’s new book
The IHT has an article on one of the greatest writers of our time: Pramoedya Ananta Toer. Toer (a.k.a. Pak Pram) is probably best known for his Buru Quartet, named after the island Buru where he was...
View ArticleAll in 1 week
In the past week, three remarkable men have passed away. The best writer of all times, one of the most innovative artists of all times and one of the most influential economists of all times. Pramoedya...
View ArticleTravel report
Here, somewhere between Los Angeles and Sydney, I decided it’s time to resume posting again. I’m returning from a very long and interesting trip through Indonesia, Malaysia, India, the Netherlands,...
View ArticleIndonesia Too Democratic?
Can a country be too democratic? Vice President of Indonesia, Jusuf Kalla, thinks it can be. The Jakarta Post reports on his visit to China, and it seems like Kalla is quite impressed by what is going...
View ArticleHigher Education Funding in Indonesia
The Jakarta Post reported that the Indonesian Director General for Higher Education, Satryo Soemantri Brodjonegoro would increase the subsidies for universities. The government would disburse a Rp 13.5...
View ArticleAsian Godfathers: Collusion of Business & Politics
Another book to add to my ‘to-read-list’: Asian Godfathers: Money and Power in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Newsweek has an article by the author of the book, Joe Studwell. Studwell had expected that...
View ArticleJakarta Post article
The Jakarta Post published a short op-ed article I wrote on higher education funding in Indonesia. They titled it Inequality in Indonesian higher education a real threat (registration required; click...
View ArticleAuthoritarianism or Participation? That’s the Question!
Is China proving that developing countries are better off under an authoritarian regime that focuses on developing the economy, rather than under a democratic regime that gives emphasis to political...
View ArticleStudent protests and the rise and fall of Suharto
At the age of 86, Suharto, the former president of the republic of Indonesia has died. Suharto has been in Pertamina hospital since the 4th of January and passed away today at 1.10 PM local time. A...
View ArticleSuharto and a former PM of Australia
A lot has been said about Suharto’s legacy in the weeks before and the week after his death. Those who think highly of him point to his economic successes and his achievements in poverty alleviation....
View ArticleThe Trisakti Tragedy: 10 years later
It’s been exactly ten years today since the Trisakti tragedy took place in Indonesia and the last remaining foundations of Suharto’s 30 year rule started crumbling down. During the month of May in...
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