CogitAsia Podcast: Jokowi’s Two-Year Report Card

In our latest episode, we turn to Indonesia and discuss the first two years of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s time in office. Adjunct Fellow Phuong Nguyen of CSIS and Research Fellow Natalie Sambhi of the Perth USAsia Centre in Australia consider whether Jokowi has met high domestic expectations, evaluate his accomplishments in domestic and economic reform (6:15), assess his cabinet reshuffles and politics (8:50), and analyze the state of Indonesia’s civil-military relations (11:15).

Nguyen and Sambhi also describe Jokowi’s foreign and security policy approach — including tension with China in the Natuna Islands area of the South China Sea and lower emphasis on ASEAN (15:25), examine Indonesia-Australia relations (23:36), and preview what to watch for in the remaining three years of Jokowi’s first term (28:17). Hosted by Will Colson. Audio edited by Frances Burkham. Written and produced by Jeffrey Bean.

For a local perspective on Jokowi’s time in office see this op-ed published by the editorial board of the Jakarta Post:

Assessing First Two Years of Jokowi’s Rule

For an international perspective see this piece by Jonathan Emont:

Visionary of Cautious Reformer? Indonesian president Joko Widodo’s Two Years in Office

For more information on Jokowi’s governing style and political management read the article mentioned in the episode written by Aaron Connelly of Lowy Institute:

Jokowi Now Stronger but Reform Agenda Narrow than Ever

Follow Natalie Sambhi on twitter @SecurityScholar. Follow Phuong Nguyen on twitter @PNguyen_DC.

To see more from Natalie Sambhi on civil-military relations in Indonesia visit her blog SecurityScholar.

Subscribe to the podcast via iTunes here. Via RSS here.

Phuong Nguyen

Phuong Nguyen

Phuong Nguyen is an adjunct fellow at CSIS focused on Southeast Asia.

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