My project addresses the question of why the leftist element of civil society in Indonesia remains marginalised despite over two decades of democratisation that have ostensibly created a more open political landscape. It investigates the factors that hinder their consolidation, both related to organisational capacity and the socio-political structures. Specifically, it analyses the extent to which Indonesia’s recent democratic decline correlates with the continued absence of an organised left.
AvH, 2025-2027

Head

Dr. Abdil Mughis Mudhoffir

Visiting Fellow

Research Questions

Why has the leftist element of civil society in Indonesia remained marginalised despite over two decades of democratisation that have ostensibly created a more open political landscape?

Contribution to International Research

The project contributes to the study of civil society and democratisation.

Research Design and Methods

The project employs a political economy approach to understand organisational and structural factors that impede the consolidation of leftist elements of civil society in strengthening Indonesian democracy. Qualitative data will be collected by using in-depth interviews and document analysis, focusing on self-identified left-wing organisations and their dynamic relationship with other elements of civil society.

Preliminary Findings

The legacies of the 1965 communist massacres in Indonesia have significantly weakened the organisational capacity of leftist elements of civil society, leading to persistent fragmentation and internal conflicts. This has given rise to liberal middle-class reformism, which exhibits limitations in its capacity to effectively confront anti-democratic forces, contributing to an observable democratic decline.

Chapter in Edited Volume | 06/2025

The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Limits of Human Rights: Southeast Asian Perspectives

What can we learn from the COVID-19 pandemic about human rights protection in Southeast Asia? This chapter of the collected edition argues the pandemic has exposed the limits of human rights, both as a normative concept of human emancipation and as a social advocacy approach.

Dr. Rafiqa Q. A'yun

University of Indonesia

Dr. Abdil Mughis Mudhoffir

Visiting Fellow

Melbourne Asia Review | 04/2025

Shrinking Civic Space Is Inevitable in Indonesia

Under President Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia's civic space is likely to shrink further. However, attributing this decline solely to aspiring autocrats is misleading; the real issue is the lack of a strong civil society to defend democracy against authoritarian threats.

Dr. Abdil Mughis Mudhoffir

Visiting Fellow

Home
Research & Transfer
Research Projects
Leftist Politics in Democratising Indonesia

Leftist Politics in Democratising Indonesia

Head

Dr. Abdil Mughis Mudhoffir

Visiting Fellow

Research Questions

Why has the leftist element of civil society in Indonesia remained marginalised despite over two decades of democratisation that have ostensibly created a more open political landscape?