Associate Professor Annie Pohlman
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Languages & Cultures School
Australia's future prosperity depends on how we develop relationships with our nearest neighbours. Indonesia is the fourth largest country in the world by population, and is the largest Muslim-majority nation. Already a member of the G20, Indonesia will have one of the world's largest economies by 2030. Despite being the most influential regional power, Indonesia is little known or understood by Australians. As it is often stated, 'Indonesia is the most important country that the world knows least about.' Yet Australia's relationship with Indonesia is crucial; for trade, for business and for security.
The focus of this course is on current Indonesian issues, with a strong emphasis on understanding Indonesia's complex politics, contemporary social issues and history, and its evolving role in the region. The topics studied include the history of modern Indonesia, religious and ethnic tensions, military politics, media and development.
Indonesia and its neighbours, evolving in the Asian century offers a broad introduction to contemporary Indonesian studies. Areas covered include: human rights, development and aid, law and governance, elections, democratic reform, history, sexuality and gender, ethnic and religious issues, militarism, and international relations from an Indonesian perspective.
Course requirements
Assumed background
There is no assumed background for this course; it is open to both complete beginners of Indonesian studies and to those with advanced knowledge.
Course staff
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
This class will be taught in person, on Tuesdays (11am - 2pm). Please note that the first 2 hours is a lecture, followed directly by a tutorial (but we will be in the same room) - Gordon Greenwood Building (32), Room 312.
Public holidays:
Alternative arrangements for affected students will be announced through the Blackboard site.
Class allocation:
In order to optimise the student experience, it may be necessary to reallocate students to a different class from their first choice.
Before this happens, every effort will be made to enable students to voluntarily change into an alternative class that is suitable.
Please note: Teaching staff do not have access to the timetabling system to help with class allocation. Therefore, should you need help with your timetable and/or allocation of classes, please ensure you email hass.mytimetable@uq.edu.au from your UQ student email account with the following details:
- Full name,
- Student ID, and
- the Course Code
Additional information and support can be found here.
Aims and outcomes
- To provide students with the opportunity to develop a broad understanding of the major issues in contemporary Indonesia, and of the major debates and controversies which have animated that history.
- To assist students to understand better the historical, cultural and political dimensions of contemporary Indonesia, and its place in the world today.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Critically appreciate major scholarly issues, debates and interpretations in the field of contemporary Indonesian studies.
LO2.
Formulate complex ideas, defend and qualify them appropriately, and communicate them concisely, fluently and compellingly, in both written and oral forms.
LO3.
Work in an independent and self-motivated fashion, as well as interact effectively with others for a common outcome.
LO4.
Formulate research questions, and to seek out, marshal, and deploy to best effect the relevant intellectual resources needed to answer those questions.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation |
Tutorial Seminar Oral Presentation
|
20% |
1/04/2025 - 27/05/2025
There are set questions to answer in the Tutorial Seminar Presentations, each with a designated week. Week 6 (1 April): Will the military gradually fade from the political scene in Indonesia? Week 7 (8 April): Has regional autonomy led to better governance in Indonesia? Week 8 (15 April): Why is Indonesia not an Islamic state? Week 9 (29 April): Does Indonesia have a culture of corruption? Week 10 (6 May): Is Indonesia still the dominant force within ASEAN? Week 11 (13 May): Should we dig a hole and bury the past? Week 12 (20 May): Can I love who I want to love in Indonesia? Week 13 (27 May): Does Indonesia suffer from 'paper park' syndrome? (i.e., are environmental protections adequate and enforced?) The student's allocated week will be considered the due date and time for this assessment. Note: the corresponding Minor Essay is due ONE WEEK after your tutorial presentation. |
| Essay/ Critique |
Minor Essay
|
30% |
7/04/2025 - 9/06/2025
Your minor essay is due ONE WEEK after your tutorial oral presentation (i.e., by the following Tuesday). |
| Essay/ Critique |
Major Essay
|
50% |
23/05/2025 5:00 pm |
Assessment details
Tutorial Seminar Oral Presentation
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Oral
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
1/04/2025 - 27/05/2025
There are set questions to answer in the Tutorial Seminar Presentations, each with a designated week.
Week 6 (1 April): Will the military gradually fade from the political scene in Indonesia?
Week 7 (8 April): Has regional autonomy led to better governance in Indonesia?
Week 8 (15 April): Why is Indonesia not an Islamic state?
Week 9 (29 April): Does Indonesia have a culture of corruption?
Week 10 (6 May): Is Indonesia still the dominant force within ASEAN?
Week 11 (13 May): Should we dig a hole and bury the past?
Week 12 (20 May): Can I love who I want to love in Indonesia?
Week 13 (27 May): Does Indonesia suffer from 'paper park' syndrome? (i.e., are environmental protections adequate and enforced?)
The student's allocated week will be considered the due date and time for this assessment.
Note: the corresponding Minor Essay is due ONE WEEK after your tutorial presentation.
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
Each tutorial will begin with 1 - 2 students giving a seminar presentation (between 10 - 12 mins) on the week’s tutorial topic, which will be followed by discussion, and questions for the speakers. Presentations should be exploratory and argumentative rather than definitive/descriptive. The marks given for a presentation will be based not only upon the presentation itself but also on the presenter’s ability to handle questions, to refine or extend (or amend if necessary) his/her arguments, and to develop further insights in the course of the tutorial.
The topic for each student’s seminar presentation will be allocated in the Week 2 tutorial. Please note that the topic of your seminar presentation/minor essay CANNOT be the same or similar to the topic of your major essay.
There are set questions to answer in the Tutorial Seminar Presentations, each with a designated week.
- Week 6 (1 April): Will the military gradually fade from the political scene in Indonesia?
- Week 7 (8 April): Has regional autonomy led to better governance in Indonesia?
- Week 8 (15 April): Why is Indonesia not an Islamic state?
- Week 9 (29 April): Does Indonesia have a culture of corruption?
- Week 10 (6 May): Is Indonesia still the dominant force within ASEAN?
- Week 11 (13 May): Should we dig a hole and bury the past?
- Week 12 (20 May): Can I love who I want to love in Indonesia?
- Week 13 (27 May): Does Indonesia suffer from 'paper park' syndrome? (i.e., are environmental protections adequate and enforced?)
(Note that the corresponding essay (your 'Minor Essay') is due by 5pm of the following Tuesday.)
The marking criteria assesses: structure; argument; sources and evidence; expression; and your responses to questions. Please go to Blackboard to download a copy of the criteria sheet.
STATEMENT ON AI & MT
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Students are to present their allotted week's topic during the tutorial in class.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
As this piece of assessment needs to be performed within the tutorial, if you are unable to present at your allotted time, you will need to arrange another time with the coordinator (Annie Pohlman; a.pohlman@uq.edu.au) for a later tutorial (please also follow the extension or deferral guide, above).
Minor Essay
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
7/04/2025 - 9/06/2025
Your minor essay is due ONE WEEK after your tutorial oral presentation (i.e., by the following Tuesday).
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
The minor essay is to be submitted electronically through TurnItIn within a week of your seminar presentation (that is, by 5pm of the Tuesday following your tutorial oral presentation*). It is an essay of between 1,200 and 1,500 words (excluding references) answering the tutorial question. It may be a written version of the oral seminar you delivered but you are free to completely re-write it in the light of the discussion in the tutorial if you wish. If your argument was subjected to serious criticism in the tutorial discussion you are strongly encouraged to at least amend your paper taking such criticism into account. This paper should have full references and a bibliography (exclusive of the word limit).
The marking criteria for the minor essay are: structure; argument; sources; expression; and referencing. Please go to Blackboard to download the criteria sheet for the minor essay.
STATEMENT ON AI & MT
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Via TurnItIn (a link will be available on Blackboard).
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Major Essay
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 50%
- Due date
23/05/2025 5:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
An essay of between 2,000 and 2,500 words (excluding references) is to be submitted via TurnItIn by 5pm on Friday of Week 12 (23 May 2025). Your chosen topic must be substantively different from the topic of your seminar presentation/minor essay. This should be a piece of work in which you show your ability to collect relevant material from a variety of sources, to interrogate it appropriately and critically, to marshal evidence in a coherent argument, and to present a polished and stylish piece of writing. If you are in doubt about a possible overlap between the major and minor essays, then check by email with your Course Coordinator (a.pohlman@uq.edu.au).
The criteria invoked in marking your essay will assess your capacity to seek out and to demonstrate a familiarity with the relevant literature; your demonstrated ability to develop a coherent and sustained piece of argumentation through the essay; and, to present your ideas stylishly and persuasively. Specifically, you will be marked on: structure; argument; your treatment of source; expression; and referencing. Please go to Blackboard to download a copy of the criteria sheet for the Major Essay.
The list of Major Essay questions can be found on Blackboard.
STATEMENT ON AI & MT
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Via TurnItIn (a link will be available on Blackboard).
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 24 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
You are required to submit all written assignments electronically via TurnItIn.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
The textbook for this course is Ken M. P. Setiawan and Dirk Thomsa, Politics in Contemporary Indonesia: Institutional Change, Policy Changes and Democratic Decline (Routledge, 2022) - available via the UQ library website. Each week, a different chapter will be your set readings. I will also post other "additional"ﾠreadings, which are posted on Blackboard (under each Week) in the "Learning Resources" folder.
UQ's CentralﾠLibrary has a wealth of useful resources. Aside from many, many online resources - if you go to the library, and walk up to the fourthﾠfloor, look for the Call numbers between DS611 and DS649 (Indonesian studies and history). This is a great place to start!
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (24 Feb - 02 Mar) |
Lecture |
Lecture 1: Where in the world is Indonesia? Introduction to the course; assessment and other requirements; an introduction to Indonesian studies. Learning outcomes: L01 |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 1: General General discussion about assessment and other expectations. Learning outcomes: L04 |
|
Week 2 (03 Mar - 09 Mar) |
Lecture |
Lecture 2: Indonesia since 1900 - 1949 A broad introduction to Indonesia since 1900 - the end of the colonial era; War, Occupation and Revolution; the new Republic; Sukarno. Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 2: General Distribution of seminar topics and other assessment arrangements. Learning outcomes: L03, L04 |
|
Week 3 (10 Mar - 16 Mar) |
Lecture |
Lecture 3: 1950-1998 Indonesia 1950 - 1998: The Sukarno years,the change from the 'Old' to the 'New' Order; Suharto's government. Learning outcomes: L01 |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 3 Research skills: library visit and seminar. Learning outcomes: L03, L04 |
|
Week 4 (17 Mar - 23 Mar) |
Lecture |
Lecture Week 4: Reformasi (1998 - today) The pro-democracy 'Reformasi' movement; Habibie, Wahid, Mega, SBY, Jokowi and Prabowo. Learning outcomes: L01 |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 4: General discussion General discussion: what do you think will be Indonesiaﾒs trajectory under the new President? Learning outcomes: L02, L04 |
|
Week 5 (24 Mar - 30 Mar) |
Lecture |
Lecture Week 5: Military Politics Governance and the state in Indonesia. Authoritarianism and centralised power under Suharto; the dual function of the military; changing the 1945 Constitution after the New Order. Learning outcomes: L01 |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 5 - Essay plans In class discussion: each student should bring an outline of (a) their seminar/minor essay and (b) their major essay topics. Each student will have 5 mins to discuss with the rest of the class their topics and arguments. Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04 |
|
Week 6 (31 Mar - 06 Apr) |
Lecture |
Lecture Week 6: Regional Autonomy The decentralisation of the state and its consequences. The rise of small towns and ethnic politics; Elections, Pilkada, and introduction to Islamic by-laws. Learning outcomes: L01 |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 6 1st Tutorial topic for presentation: Will the military gradually fade from the political scene in Indonesia? Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04 |
|
Week 7 (07 Apr - 13 Apr) |
Lecture |
Lecture Week 7: Islam, nationalism and democracy Islamic Life and law in Indonesia, Islam in Island SE Asia + religion and the Indonesian state. Learning outcomes: L01 |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 7 Topic 2: Has regional autonomy led to better governance in Indonesia? Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04 |
|
Week 8 (14 Apr - 20 Apr) |
Lecture |
Lecture Week 8: Corruption Business, Money and Politics. The evolution of corruption in the modern Indonesian state. Learning outcomes: L01 |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 8 Seminar Topic 3: Why is Indonesia not an Islamic state? Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04 |
|
Week 9 (28 Apr - 04 May) |
Lecture |
Lecture 9: International relations International relations: foreign affairs from an Indonesian perspective; go to hell with your aid, Konfrontasi, establishing ASEAN; SBY’s middle power ambitions; Jokowi’s sea lanes, Prabowo’s ? Learning outcomes: L01 |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 9 Tutorial topic 4: Does Indonesia have a culture of corruption? Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04 |
|
Week 10 (05 May - 11 May) |
Lecture |
Lecture Week 10: Dealing with the past Dealing with the past: a legacy of atrocities; major cases of crimes against humanity and attempts to deal with them. Learning outcomes: L01 |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 10 Seminar Topic 5: Is Indonesia still the dominant force within ASEAN? Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04 |
|
Week 11 (12 May - 18 May) |
Lecture |
Lecture Week 11: Gender and sexuality Gender and sexuality (ibu, wife and mother, heteronormativity, janda and waria) Learning outcomes: L01 |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 11 Seminar Topic 6: Should we dig a hole and bury the past? Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04 |
|
Week 12 (19 May - 25 May) |
Lecture |
Lecture Week 12: The environment The environment in Indonesia: megadiversity on the maritime continent, contemporary and future challenges. Learning outcomes: L01 |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 12 Seminar Topic 7: Can I love who I want to love in Indonesia? Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04 |
|
Week 13 (26 May - 01 Jun) |
Lecture |
Lecture Week 13: Reflection and Revision Quo vadis, Indonesia? What will Indonesia look like under this new president? Learning outcomes: L01 |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 13 Seminar topic 8: Does Indonesia suffer from the 'paper park' syndrome? i.e., are environmental protections adequate and enforced? Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.