One of the main challenges of studying informal dimensions of politics is that the things you are looking for are largely invisible. At least at first. The way in which a businessman uses personal connections to secure a government contract, the informal authority that party workers exert in his neighbourhood or the ways in which… Read More Doing Fieldwork on Informal Politics

In december I published the article below in Inside Indonesia on an election campaign for governor in Central Kalimantan. I highlighted the collusion between politicians and the palm oil industry. Now the election results are in. None of the candidates were appealing, but the outcome is still disappointing. The candidate with the closest ties to… Read More Palm oil wins elections in Central Kalimantan