Olivier Hein, "Borneo: The History of an Enigma" (Hurst, 2026)

The podcast explores the history, geography, and contemporary issues of Borneo with Olivier Hein, author of "Borneo, the History of an Enigma." Hein details Borneo's geographic structure, noting its mountainous interior, ancient rainforests, and river networks, which historically shaped settlement and cultural development. The discussion covers the waves of external influences, including Hindu, Buddhist, Chinese, and Islamic, and later, European colonial powers, particularly focusing on the anomalous rule of the White Rajahs. Hein also addresses current environmental challenges, such as deforestation driven by the timber and palm oil industries, and the island's increasing geopolitical significance, including its role as the future home of Indonesia's new capital, Nusantara, and potential tensions arising from China's presence in the South China Sea.