Almost two billion people, around half of the world’s population, will vote in elections this year. It could either be the 12 months that see the triumph of liberal democracy or the demise of political liberty. But things will be a little drab in Southeast Asia. Yes, some 200 million Indonesians will head to the polls in February, but they have a paltry list of candidates to pick from. The differences between them are cigarette-paper thin. Do read Max Lane’s article (“Polarization in Indonesia: Distinguishing the Real from the Rhetorical”) from August, in which he argues that…
