About the conference 2022

Understanding Indonesia: Movers and Shakers

This conference will cover topics concerning Indonesian politics, history, social studies, religion, law, and education. Indonesia has enjoyed over two decades of un-interrupted democracy, underpinned by liberal freedoms and rights, since 1998. Contemporary Indonesia cannot be separated from its history, including its authoritarian past, under the Sukarno and Suharto regimes, which pressed for uniformity in national identity and politics. The country has also had its fair share of other challenges, including separatist movements and terrorism. An analysis of the quality of democracy in Indonesia is timely since democracy appears in retreat globally with worrying signs of anti-liberalism in well-established democracies, such as the Philippines, Turkey, and Brazil. Even the United States of America had its democratic system and values challenged during the Trump administration. Various actors and institutions, including politicians, social activists, religious individuals and organisations, and others, have contributed to Indonesia’s political culture and civil society.

The conference ‘Movers and Shakers’ provides an inter-disciplinary forum allowing contributors, including academics, researchers, teachers, and students of various disciplines, to identify, analyse, and debate who and how influential actors have contributed to shape Indonesia. High school teachers and students, as well as members of the public, who may not normally be involved in academic conferences are invited to attend, where it is hoped people will better understand the privileges and challenges of democracy in Australia’s largest and most important neighbour, with participation possible physically face to face or online.

The conference is free of charge

This is the second Understanding Indonesia conference at CDU

Date: Friday 18 February 2022

Venue: Building Blue 1.1.01 Lecture Theatre, CDU Casuarina Campus, Ellengowan Drive Darwin NT 0909- see CDU map.

Parking: On Friday paid and free parking options are indicated on the map above.

Public transport to CDU: Bus 4 – see timetable Casuarina to Darwin City and Darwin City to Casuarina.

Conference Convener

Nathan Franklin
Charles Darwin University
T: +61 8 8946 7171
E: nathan.franklin@cdu.edu.au