In the midst of the pandemic, the deeper conflicts over the political system, the role of Islam, and the orientation of the economy have persisted, exacerbating the situation. The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted weaknesses in Widodo’s leadership, as the country faces a rising death toll and the government’s response has been muddled. Many of the governance challenges facing President Joko Widodo today stem from three unresolved historical tensions: between democracy and authoritarianism, between Islamic majoritarianism and pluralism, and between economic nationalism and the need for foreign capital. Like its neighbors Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Thailand, Indonesia is struggling to find definitive answers to existential questions such as who controls state power, how the economy is oriented, and who can be a citizen. Rather than backsliding, Indonesia is a nation that is still in the making, 75 years after it declared independence from the Netherlands.
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