Adinda Jasmine, Jakarta – The book The Jokowi Presidency: Indonesia's Decade of Authoritarian Revival was officially launched on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Central Jakarta. The launch was held in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the ANU Indonesia Project.
This work was edited by Australian National University (ANU) researchers Sana Jaffrey and Eve Warburton. They compiled analyses from a range of experts in politics, law, economics, and civil society to evaluate President Joko Widodo or Jokowi's administration from 2014 to 2024.
The book examines the administration's achievements and failures, as well as the shifting political landscape, including a regression of democracy toward an authoritarian revival.
Political disruption and the revival of new order tactics
Sana Jaffrey explained that the book's contributors conclude that Jokowi is a "disruptive figure." She noted that Jokowi's rise to the presidency was initially a shock to the political establishment due to his humble background.
"However, upon leaving office, he only brought about moderate economic changes and reversed Indonesia's democracy," she said. "He led what we call a decade of authoritarian revival."
Jaffrey described the Jokowi administration as being defined by two themes: a focus on economic development that often neglected civil liberties and accountability, and a return to political tactics reminiscent of the New Order era, such as restricting criticism, centralizing power, and dismantling mechanisms of accountability.
According to Jaffrey, the paradox of Jokowi's government is rooted in his populist background and high popularity, which enabled him to govern with an intuitive understanding of the public.
"The social assistance program, often considered wasteful or patronizing, in reality made a real difference in people's lives," she said. This political capital, she argued, was often used without restraint.
Book structure and themes
At the same event, co-editor Eve Warburton described the book as a compilation of contributions from activists, senior academics, young researchers, and former government officials. "The common theme is the revival of the past. Economically, reviving development ambitions and language; politically, reviving strategies to limit competition and civil space," she said.
The book includes dedicated sections discussing the economy, social welfare, infrastructure, the impact of development on land and ownership, the human rights situation, and the weakening of legal institutions like the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the Constitutional Court. It also analyzes regional politics.
Warburton views Jokowi's legacy as a mix of achievements and failures. "He sees himself as the infrastructure president. However, the authors demonstrate that the results are highly diverse," she stated.
She added that the book provides a nuanced portrait of Jokowi, exploring his views on power, his management of democratic institutions, and his interactions with oligarchs, political parties, and the public. The book also highlights a sense of disappointment among academics and activists who feel Jokowi abandoned the democratic mission.
However, Warburton also reminded the audience that Jokowi remains one of the most popular presidents in the history of Indonesian democracy. "This is the puzzle that we try to understand and explain. It is also about how Indonesians themselves interpret democracy and their policy priorities," she concluded.