The tension between state boundaries and economic flows in the Indonesian Archipelago

What is it about?

Singapore since its 1819 foundation as a British entrepot has acted as a magnet for exporters and importers throughout the Archipelago seeking access to international markets. Successive Dutch, Japanese and Indonesian governments have sought to combat curb this flow and redirect trade to their own ports through a mixture of carrots (opening rival free ports and providing incentives) and penal sticks. History suggests that the Archipelago is a naturally open space for traders that fllourishes best when it accepts that situation.

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