Editor's note

​Even though it has the largest population of Muslims in the world, Indonesia’s founding principles have ensured equality for all of the country’s ethnic and religious groups since it was created in 1945.

But Jakarta’s divisive gubernatorial election illustrates that these ideas are now at risk, argues Alexander R. Arifianto, and the Christian Chinese incumbent governor’s loss shows how Indonesia’s diversity is the biggest casualty of this highly polarising election. ​

Reema Rattan

Global Commissioning Editor

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Darren Whiteside/Reuters

Jakarta governor election results in a victory for prejudice over pluralism

Alexander R Arifianto, Nanyang Technological University

The election was a referendum on the future of Indonesia’s ethno-religious diversity and pluralism.

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