A quarter-century after Reformasi, Indonesia’s democracy remains formally intact yet substantively strained—caught between legal procedures and moral erosion. Meanwhile, a new generation has come of age in a world where democracy feels normal, even as its essence fades.

In this lecture, Anies Baswedan reflects on the evolving meaning of democracy in Indonesia and the role of youth in reinventing it. Drawing from his experience in governance, civic initiatives, and education, he argues that the vitality of democracy rests not only on laws and elections, but on moral imagination—the capacity of citizens to link integrity with participation, and hope with responsibility.

About Anies Baswedan

Anies Rasyid Baswedan is an Indonesian public figure, educator, and former Governor of Jakarta (2017–2022). He founded Aksi Bersama, a civic movement connecting volunteers and donors to build bridges in remote areas, and Karsa City Lab, an urban transformation lab advancing participatory city governance. In 2025 he co-authored Leadership XYZ: Three Generations Speak on Life and Leadership, a reflection on values and integrity across generations. Throughout his career he has been a consistent advocate of democracy, meritocracy, and ethical governance.

Aftertalk

After his lecture, AISSR anthropologist Ward Berenschot will reflect on this lecture with Anies.

Moderator

The program will be moderated by AISSR anthropologist Yatun Sastramidjaja.

We welcome you from 14:00 on, the lecture starts at 14:30.

This lecture is hosted by the Moving Matters research programme, part of the Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR).