PODCAST:The Intelligence from The Economist
TITLE:The Intelligence: Indonesia’s election, more TikTok than tick-box
DATE:2024-01-31 00:00:00
URL:
MODEL:gpt-4-gizmo
In the episode titled "The Intelligence: Indonesia’s Election, More TikTok Than Tick-Box," from The Economist's podcast "The Intelligence," the hosts Jason Palmer and Ora Ughunbi explore the unique dynamics of Indonesia's national election, highlighting how social media, particularly TikTok, is significantly influencing young voters. Sue Lin Wong, the Southeast Asia correspondent, provides insights into how Prabowo Subianto, a 72-year-old candidate with a controversial past, has rebranded himself on TikTok by engaging in dance and other youth-centric activities, gaining popularity among the young electorate. Despite his past as a military figure with accusations of human rights abuses, his social media strategy and backing by the current beloved president, Joko Widodo, have made him a favorite among millennials and younger voters, who make up more than half of Indonesia's 204 million voters.
The episode also discusses other candidates and the overall trend in Indonesian politics, where personality and social media presence often trump political policies and platforms. Despite the dominance of entertainment in campaigning, there's a growing awareness among young, politically engaged Indonesians about the need for informed voting. Organizations like Bijak Mamili are using accessible formats to engage young voters in meaningful political discourse, emphasizing the importance of substance over style in electoral choices.
Additionally, the podcast covers global trade challenges, focusing on the Panama Canal's reduced capacity due to climate change-induced droughts. Kate Parker from the Economist Intelligence Unit explains how nearby countries, such as Mexico and Colombia, are considering alternative land and maritime routes to capitalize on the trade disruptions. However, she expresses skepticism about these alternatives' viability compared to the convenience and efficiency of maritime routes like the Panama Canal.
Lastly, the episode delves into Canada's issue with hybrid pigs, crossbred from domestic pigs and wild boars, which have become an invasive and destructive force in the prairie provinces. Peg Fong, The Economist's Vancouver correspondent, discusses the pigs' adaptability, prolific breeding, and the challenges in controlling their population. The potential for these pigs to spread diseases like African swine fever into the United States adds to the concern among American pork producers about the economic and environmental impacts of this invasive species.
Overall, the episode provides a comprehensive look at the intersection of social media and politics in Indonesia's election, global trade challenges due to environmental changes, and the environmental and economic implications of invasive species in Canada, offering insights into the complexities and nuances of these issues.
