Indonesian social protests prove costly

Significance

The protest demonstrated the sustained capacity of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) to mobilise thousands of people around Islamist issues. These protests are part of a broader spectrum of recent mass mobilisations over various social and economic grievances.

Impacts

• Labour protests are unlikely to spread across Indonesia.
• Violence during right-wing protests is likely to be relatively small-scale.
• Islamist protests could cost Ahok his 2017 re-election bid.