Just how much is the controversy around Ahok related to his ethnicity and religion and how much is it about popular politics in Indonesia today? How has Ahok’s own political style played a part? We also discuss what racism looks like almost twenty years after the fall of the New Order and with it institutionalised state racism against this minority. Dr Jemma Purdey explores these questions and more with Professor Ariel Heryanto. (Photo by Hendra Nurdiyansyah for Antara Foto)