In this episode — the last one before Indonesia’s presidential and legislative elections on April 17 — we discuss the fourth round of presidential debates, which is the last one between Jokowi and Prabowo. This round focused on ideology (specifically, Pancasila), foreign policy, defense, and governance. We talk about how both candidates performed, in particular unpacking their distinctly different visions of Indonesia’s role regionally and globally. We debate the pros and cons of diplomacy and soft power (‘nice guy’ tactics) vs. defense-first and military might (‘tough guy’ tactics) in terms of how to approach Indonesia’s place in the world.
Finally, we look back at the last few months and this election cycle, reflecting on how much has changed since the 2014 presidential elections, when the same two candidates were facing each other for the first time. We urge our listeners, whether you’re in Indonesia or abroad like us, to get informed — not only on the presidential election but also the legislative election — and get ready to vote.
For most Indonesians abroad, you’ll likely be voting on the Saturday before the elections, on April 13th.
For Indonesians in Indonesia, you’ll be voting on Wednesday, April 17th. Get out and vote!
Thanks for listening!
