Yogyakarta, June 24, 2026—The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIPOL) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) hosted a public lecture titled “Tinpots and Technocrats? Market Reforms and the Politics of Personal Rule” on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, in Room BA 201 at FISIPOL UGM.
The event, held from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM WIB, featured Professor Benjamin Smith from the University of Florida as the keynote speaker. Professor Smith is an expert in comparative politics and political economy, known for his research on natural resource wealth and politics, ethnic conflict, and regimes and regime change in developing nations. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Washington and previously served as an Academy Scholar at the Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies.
The lecture addressed fundamental questions regarding how market reforms reshape political power and why personal rule persists in the era of economic liberalization. The event offered participants the opportunity to explore the relationship between market reform and the politics of personal rule through the lenses of comparative politics and political economy.
Through this public lecture, the organizers hoped that participants would not only gain insights into the dynamics of political change but also actively engage in contemporary scholarly debates within the fields of comparative politics and political economy. Professor Smith’s presence was intended to spark critical discussion and deepen participants’ understanding of the complex relationship between economic policy and power structures across various countries.
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