Jokowi’s Repressive Pluralism
Over the past four years, the government of Indonesian President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo has been conducting a concerted and systematic campaign of repression against Islamists. This may be welcome news for Indonesia’s western partners — especially Australia, where surveys repeatedly show that many fear Indonesia’s perceived rising Islamic conservatism and militancy. But Australia and other nations should be concerned by Indonesia’s anti-Islamist policy because it erodes human rights, undermines democratic values and could well lead to a radical backlash against what is seen as growing state antipathy towards Islam.
Click here to keep reading. Greg Fealy of ANU writes for East Asia Forum.
