Search

A chapter of the book "Southeast Asian Affairs 2009" is presented. It explores the developments in Indonesia including the stabilization of democracy and the support of the society for the leadership of Soeharto. It highlights the different trends in Indonesia in 2008 including the efforts such as the drive against corruption and the elections to sustain democracy, the economic performance during the 2008 financial crisis, and the struggle to be an important international figure.

A chapter of the book "Southeast Asian Affairs 2009" is presented. It explores the historical foundations of Indonesia until its establishment as a state. It highlights the contributions of President Sukarno including his role in the establishment of the identity of Indonesia as well as the challenges posed by the government of President Soeharto related to the improvement of economy, politics, and the provision of civil liberties.

Chapter 3 of the book "Islam and the Secular State in Indonesia" is presented. It relates that the idea of a nation-state political system was widely accepted by Indonesian Muslims during the rule of their non-Muslim colonizers. It examines the exponents of the Islamic Democratic State (IDS) which was theorized by Mohammad Natsir. It explores the foundation of the IDS model where Muslim writers equate Islam with democracy.

Chapter 2 of the book "Islam and the Secular State in Indonesia" is presented. It examines the issues surrounding Islam and politics in Indonesia where separation of religion and state is not recognized. It provides a background on the religious reform that took place in Indonesia back in the nineteenth century. It concludes that change and reform have become the most relevant debated issues in modern Islamic intellectual world.

Chapter 3 of the book "Deepening Democracy in Indonesia? Direct Elections for Local Leaders (Pilkada)," edited by Maribeth Erb and Priyambudi Sulistiyanto is presented. It explores the problems for democratic consolidation on political parties in pilkada. It argues that the path toward deepening democracy has not been encouraged by the direct elections as the electoral and party system restrains grassroots participation.

Chapter 2 of the book "Deepening Democracy in Indonesia? Direct Elections for Local Leaders (Pilkada)," edited by Maribeth Erb and Priyambudi Sulistiyanto is presented. It highlights the first step towards on the long road towards a dualistic provincial and district government in the Indonesian system. It also explores the criticisms toward the New Order government in Indonesia, along with the personal influence of the Minister of Home Affairs in the country's political structure.

Chapter 2 of the book "Indonesia Beyond the Water's Edge: Managing an Archipelagic State" is presented. It traces the history of Indonesia's status as an archipelagic state. Particular focus is given to the Territorial Sea and Maritime Districts Ordinance of 1935. It notes the failure of the 1945 and 1950 constitution to address Indonesia's jurisdiction over the waters between the islands. It also notes the efforts of the Juanda Declaration of 1957 to reassure the maritime powers and protect Indonesia's overseas trade.

Chapter 1 of the book "Indonesia Beyond the Water's Edge: Managing an Archipelagic State" is presented. It focuses on governance issues facing Indonesia as an archipelagic state. Particular focus is given to two distinct governance problems raised by Indonesia's archipelagic character. It notes that the identity of Indonesia as a nation and state has been affected by its status as an archipelago. The centre-periphery tension in Indonesian politics can be attributed to the disparity between the islands in terms of population.

Chapter 2 of the book "Indonesia Beyond the Water's Edge: Managing an Archipelagic State" is presented. It focuses on the Indonesian government's approach to negotiating maritime boundaries. It notes the important strategic location occupied by the country. Particular focus is given to the Juanda Declaration of 1957, along with the international acceptance of the archipelagic state concept. It cites two major developments that required the revision of government regulations on the exact coordinates of its archipelagic basepoints.

Chapter 5 of the book "Indonesia: Democracy and the Promise of Good Governance" is presented. It explores the factors underlying democratic Indonesia's economic decline, and discusses how the Soeharto regime was able to generate high-level economic performance. It argues that the economic decline can be attributed to the government's failure to implement adequate public sector policies, particularly in the bureaucracy, judiciary and state-owned enterprises, that complement the private sector.

Chapter 4 of the book "Indonesia: Democracy and the Promise of Good Governance" is presented. It examines some of the factors that affect the outcome of decentralization in Indonesia, as well as the gains and losses associated with it. The author focused his analysis on the districts of Bangka in Banka-Belitung, Bantul in Yogyakarta and Jembrana in Bali and the city of Mataram in Lombok. The factors affecting local leaders' delivery of reforms include societal bases and public programs.

Chapter 3 of the book "Indonesia: Democracy and the Promise of Good Governance" is presented. It explores the role of political parties in democratic political systems, particularly in Indonesia. It also examines from the broader Asian context the subsequent electoral reform in the country, in which fewer, larger parties are encouraged. The author finds the attempt to develop large parties with national reach is concerned on diminishing the ethnic and regional divides in the Indonesian society.

Chapter 7 of the book "Indonesia: Democracy and the Promise of Good Governance" is presented. It focuses on the attempt of some aggressive Islamic groups in Indonesia to reinforce their position as the dominant religious community. It presents three case studies on the subject and discusses how Muslim politics, in which religious sentiments were exploited in relation to Muslims' socio-political issues, became a crucial factor that negatively affect the rights of religious minorities.

Chapter 6 of the book "Indonesia: Democracy and the Promise of Good Governance" is presented. It explores developments and changes in the relationship between the business sector and the Indonesian government since the country's democratization and the rise of business associations such as the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It also looks at enduring problems in the business-government relationship, in which business drive for political influence affect public welfare negatively.

Chapter 10 of the book "Indonesia: Democracy and the Promise of Good Governance" is presented. It explores the main judicial reforms implemented by the Indonesian government in its effort toward democracy. They include reforms in the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court and the Judicial Commission. The balance between judicial independence and judicial accountability, as well as the dispute between the Judicial Commission and the Supreme Court over judicial accountability, were also explored.

Chapter 9 of the book "Indonesia: Democracy and the Promise of Good Governance" is presented. It outlines the civil service reform that should be implemented by the Indonesian government to secure progress and sustainable outcomes in its democratization effort. The author believes that transparency and accountability are fundamental in reforming the bureaucracy, and that reform should address features of civil service that preserve old behavior in defiance of the new democratic system.

Chapter 8 of the book "Indonesia: Democracy and the Promise of Good Governance" is presented. It explores the changes in Indonesia's policy for the welfare of children since its transition to democracy. The government's approach to children's welfare and protection is noted to consider children as human beings, as citizens in their own rights, a contrast to the earlier approach which sees children as merely future citizens.

Chapter 2 of the book "Indonesia: Democracy and the Promise of Good Governance" is presented. It explores major constitutional changes in Indonesia between 1999 and 2002, including the electoral legislation, the relations between executive and legislature, the constitutional court and the judicial system. It also compares Indonesia's approach in constitution-building with other approaches to constitution-building in other developing countries.

The article focuses on issues related to politics and economy of Indonesia. It mentions that strengthening of the democratic and political reforms have been prioritized by Indonesians both in government and in civil society. It states that the economy is in good condition due to the sound macroeconomic policies of the government. It also says that the political landscape of the country is currently dominated by President Susilo Bambang Yudhyono who is the only president to have a popular mandate.

Chapter 11 of the book "Remaking Muslim Politics: Pluralism, Contestation, Democratization," edited by Robert W. Hefner is presented. It examines the reasons behind the occurrence of bombings in Bali and Jakarta, Indonesia involving Islamist paramilitaries and the impacts of such events on the democratic transition after the resignation of President Soeharto. It also discusses some features of the contemporary politics in the country including the jihadi movement.

This article provides information on politics and government in Indonesia. The Indonesian government's July 1996 crackdown on supporters of opposition leader Megawati Sukarnoputri allegedly sparked rioting that impacted the city of Jakarta. The unrest allegedly highlighted discontent over widening income inequalities, official corruption and political repression under President Suharto's authoritarian rule. In August 1945, President Sukarno allegedly proclaimed Indonesia's independence from the Dutch. Following an October 1965 coup attempt by the Indonesian Communist Party, the Army Strategic Reserve, led by General Suharto, led a slaughter of some 50,000 suspected Communists.