Understanding the Australia-Indonesia bilateral relationship from a Northern Australian Perspective
How can Australia better understand Indonesia? In fact, what does Australia know about Indonesia? The answer to the latter question depends on who you ask and what you ask. The average Australian might respond, cheap Bali holidays, Bintang beer, nasi goreng fried rice, and friendly “Hindu” people with the same four names, Wayan, Made, Nyoman, and Ketut. The reality is that Australia’s relationship with Indonesia is much more complex. Australians who understand Indonesia know that there has been incredible effort on both sides to improve the relationship, which has manifested in positive government to government links, enhanced defence cooperation, comprehensive economic partnership agreements, educational collaboration, as well as civil society links in the form of diaspora lead community groups in both countries.
Biography
My research interests include Indonesian politics, history, society, political Islam, Indonesian language and culture, and Southeast Asian and East Asian politics and history. My PhD concerned Indonesia’s two largest Islamic organisations, namely, Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah, and their respective political culture and educational systems, particularly Islamic boarding schools (pesantren). I have published several peer-reviewed articles on Indonesian politics, religion, and history, in top Q1 journals and written book reviews related to Indonesian politics and history. I teach all levels of Indonesian, Indonesian politics and history, and have taught in philosophy and general common units related to northern Australia and student academic development. I convene the Understanding Indonesia conference series and provide regular media commentary on matters relating to my areas of expertise.