Editor’s Introduction Kanti W. Janis is an Indonesian constitutional lawyer, acclaimed author, and political leader whose work bridges constitutional litigation, democratic governance, and anti-extractivist community defense. Emerging from a prominent anticolonial family of independence freedom … [Read more...]
Essay
A New Generation of Chefs Reimagines Indonesian Cuisine in the Netherlands to Tell the Stories of Its Origins
August 1, 2026 by
The shift reflects a larger cultural moment, with chefs asking whether the cuisine should remain tied to colonial nostalgia or evolve into a reflection of modern Indonesian identity. In the Dutch town of Oegstgeest just outside Leiden, soft lighting glows against warm wood and avocado green walls … [Read more...]
On Homecoming (and Leaving), Jakarta to New York
June 16, 2026 by
Scenario 1 I land in Jakarta just in time for Chinese New Year. I can smell the cigarette smoke and rain before the plane even touches the tarmac; my body retrieves memories faster than my mind can process them. I move through Arrivals in an easy forward motion: smile as the immigration … [Read more...]
Beyond The Act of Killing: Indonesia and the Price of National Unity
May 9, 2026 by
A new documentary is inventive, but will not help Indonesia get to the truth of the 1965 killings. The Act of Killing, a new documentary on Indonesia’s anti-Communist mass killings, is making the rounds globally and earning praise for its innovative cinematography. Innovative it may be, but the … [Read more...]
Becoming Ungovernable: Latah, Amok, And Disorder In Indonesia
May 9, 2026 by
If there is one Indonesian word you know, it’s probably amok. As in children dressing in Halloween costumes and running amuck, amuck, amuck (that’s a quote from the 1993 movie Hocus Pocus). The original connotation isn’t cute, though. It’s not playful. It’s an episode of frenzied violence, a sudden … [Read more...]
