What role do political dynasties play in Indonesian politics, including the upcoming Jakarta gubernatorial election? What motivates political families to attempt to establish themselves as dynasties, and how do they do so? Are steps needed to curb the entrenchment of dynasties in the Indonesian political system?

In this week's Talking Indonesia podcast, the first for 2017, I explore these issues with Dr Jemma Purdey, Research Fellow in the Faculty of Arts and the Australia Indonesia Centre. Dr Purdey is the editor of a special edition of the South East Asia Research Journal on political families in Southeast Asia.

Talking Indonesia, co-hosted in 2017 by Dr Dave McRae, Dr Jemma Purdey, Dr Charlotte Setijadi and Dr Dirk Tomsa, presents extended interviews each fortnight with experts on Indonesian politics, foreign policy, culture, language and more. Photo Credit: Widodo S. Jusuf for Antara. Find all the Talking Indonesia episodes and more at the Indonesia At Melbourne blog.