Indonesia under President Prabowo: Ambitions for State-Led Development Amid Turbulent Geopolitical Relations

Time: 12:00-13:30, June 5 (Friday), 2026

Venue: Room 324, Wenke Building, Fudan University

Speaker: Dr.Wawan Mas’udi

Wawan Mas’udi, Ph.D. serves as a prominent scholar at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Indonesia. He obtains his doctoral degree with a specialized research focus on local governance, public policy, and political economy in Southeast Asia. Dr. Mas’udi has published extensively on democratic backsliding, populist governance, and social welfare dynamics in Indonesia. His current research critically evaluates the intersection of state-driven development paradigms and institutional democracy under shifting regimes.

Abstract: This lecture analyzes early Indonesian politics under President Prabowo Subianto, focusing on the convergence of ambitious state-led development and populist governance. The administration prioritizes national self-sufficiency through initiatives like the Free Nutritious Meals program and the new capital development. However, Prabowo's big tent coalition model and strongman style pose risks of institutional erosion and a shift toward illiberal stability. Geopolitically, the administration navigates polarization through a pragmatic good neighbor hedging strategy to secure investments and modernize defense. Ultimately, the presidency marks a critical juncture, balancing transformative economic gains against democratic backsliding and fiscal overextension.

Host: Assoc. Prof. Xue Song, Institute of International Studies, Fudan University

Discussant: Dr. Dede Setiono

Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Policy and Management at Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia, and Visiting Scholar at the Fudan Development Institute

All are welcome to join the discussion!