Zakharov Anton

Highest Orders of Indonesia under Prabowo Subianto: New Trends, Statistics, and Controversies

ЮГО-ВОСТОЧНАЯ АЗИЯ: АКТУАЛЬНЫЕ ПРОБЛЕМЫ РАЗВИТИЯ, 2025, №3(68), 260-286

 
Annotation: The awarding of a nation’s highest orders reflects the deliberate choices of its political leadership. In 2025, President Prabowo Subianto awarded 141 individuals the highest civilian and military honors on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Indonesia's proclamation of Independence from the Netherlands. This article, drawing on open sources — primarily government websites and media outlets — examines the list of awardees, provides brief biographical data. The article refines the overall statistics for the following orders: the Star of the Republic of Indonesia (Bintang Republik Indonesia), the Son of the Great Motherland (Bintang Mahaputera), the Star of Merit (Bintang Jasa), the Star of Humanity (Bintang Kemanusiaan), and the Star of Cultural Merit (Bintang Budaya Parama Dharma). The study also addresses issues with statistical data concerning one of the highest military awards — the Sacred Star (Bintang Sakti). The article sheds light on public opinion regarding the August 2025 awards and on potential trends in the development of Indonesian society and the state. The conclusion points to the growing role of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (Tentara Nasional Indonesia, TNI) in public life and what is, in effect, a preparation for the restoration of a “New Order”-style regime akin to that of General Suharto. The August 2025 awards highlight the nexus between the state and business, the significant influence of clan and family structures, and the strengthening of the president's Gerindra Party and the Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama.

Keywords: Indonesia, orders, Prabowo Subianto, statistics, Armed Forces, clan system, democratization, authoritarianism