NOTICE: Open Forum – Indonesia and the State of Southeast Asia on May 21, 2026
Open Forum
Indonesia and the State of Southeast Asia
Thursday, May 21st
8:30 a.m. EDT
9:30 p.m. WIB
Online via Zoom
Melinda Martinus
Fellow and Co-coordinator of the ASEAN Studies Center,
ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute
Julia Lau
Principal Fellow and Coordinator of the Indonesia Studies Programme,
ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute
Dr. Siwage Dharma Negara
Principal Fellow, Co-coordinator of the Indonesia Studies Programme, and Coordinator o
the Singapore APEC Studies Centre, ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute
Moderated By:
Ambassador David Merrill, USINDO President
Indonesia is experiencing significant political, social, and economic change, buffeted by developments in the Southeast Asia region and the rest of the world. These developments are affecting how Indonesians see themselves, their neighbors, and the wider world. Indonesian public opinion is evolving and to understand contemporary Indonesia, it is essential to analyze these shifts in Indonesian perceptions and attitudes. What do Indonesians see as the greatest threats to and opportunities for their country? How do they feel about foreign powers, including the United States? How has Indonesian public opinion evolved in recent years and how does it compare to their neighbors?
Concentrating on data collected in Indonesia, this Open Forum will review how Indonesian opinion leaders perceive the changes happening around them. ISEAS experts will present and analyze the survey respondents’ top concerns and priorities, including Indonesians’ perceptions of major power rivalries - especially between the U.S. and China. The panelists will discuss how Indonesians’ priorities compare to those of other ASEAN countries and how Indonesians’ views of key political, social, and economic issues have shifted over time.
We are fortunate to have an excellent panel of experts to unpack the survey data and take our questions.
Melinda Martinus is Fellow and Acting Co-coordinator of the ASEAN Studies Centre at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. She will present the survey data on Indonesia and provide insights on longitudinal trends in Indonesia and comparative data from Indonesia’s neighbors in ASEAN.
Julia Lau, a political scientist and coordinator of the Indonesia Studies Programme at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, and Dr. Siwage Dharma Negara, an economist and coordinator of the APEC Studies Center, will discuss the survey findings and the implications for evolving public opinion in Indonesia.
Following that, we will take questions from the online audience.
The forum will be moderated by USINDO’s President, Ambassador David Merrill.
Please join us for this timely and informative USINDO Open Forum discussion.
Full Biography of Speakers:
Melinda Martinus is Fellow at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, where she also serves as the co-coordinator of its ASEAN Studies Center. Melinda is Production Editor of the ASEAN Studies Centre’s blog, ASEANFocus+ at Fulcrum.sg. She is one of the editors of the institute’s two annual survey reports, the State of Southeast Asia and the Southeast Asia Climate Outlook. Before joining ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, she was a program manager at Kota Kita Foundation, Indonesia and a researcher at the Center for Metropolitan Studies (Centropolis) at Tarumanagara University Jakarta. She studied urban planning at Tarumanagara University, Jakarta and Columbia University, New York.
Julia Lau is Principal Fellow and Coordinator of the Indonesia Studies Programme at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. She is also Deputy Managing Editor of the institute’s commentary and analysis website, Fulcrum. She is recognized for her expertise in Indonesia’s domestic politics, foreign policy and role as a middle power. She has lectured in political science and international law at Georgetown University, The Catholic University of America, and McDaniel College, USA.
Dr. Siwage Dharma Negara is Principal Fellow, Co-coordinator of the Indonesia Studies Programme, and coordinator of the Singapore APEC Studies Centre at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. His research focuses on macroeconomic and development issues, industrial and trade policies with a special focus on Indonesia. Before joining the institute, he worked as a researcher at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) and economist consultant for the World Bank Office Jakarta. Dr Siwage received his PhD in Economics from the University of Melbourne, Australia.
The event will be held online via Zoom.
To register, please click here.
If you face any technical difficulties with the link above, you can also register by sending an email to [email protected].
The United States-Indonesia Society's mission is strengthening mutual understanding between the United States and Indonesia, enhancing the bilateral relationship, and deepening the U.S.-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. We implement our mission through public discussions in each country and long-term bi-national programs in the education, legislative, and other sectors.
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