Contemporary Indonesian politics may have looked bleak in recent years, especially
after the rallies that led to the imprisonment of Jakarta’s former governor Basuki
Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) in 2016. Yet, when we look at Indonesia in comparative
perspective, we see its democracy has shown positive signs. These signs include the
exclusion of deep-rooted military power, the promise of freedom and democratic
rights, the decentralisation of power, the proliferation of new political parties, and
the creation of several democratic institutions, such as the Constitutional Court
and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). Nonetheless, after several
elections, problems of corruption, shallow and weak institutions, and stagnation
have become all too familiar for most Indonesians.