Indonesian Democratic Transition: Implications for United States Policy

Abstract

The onset of the Asian economic crisis in May 1997 assured the end of the tottering "New Order" regime of President Suharto. Economic collapse re-energized social and political grievances long muted by the cumulative effects of steady economic growth and political repression. In May 1998, the discredited Suharto regime collapsed. In June 1999, democratic elections led to the formation of a reform government led by President Abdurrahman Wahid. The Wahid administration did not begin from a position of great strength. It has relied on a coalition of forces (the so-called Axis Force) whose continued support is uncertain. Wahid' 5 party gained only slightly more than 10 percent of the parliamentary vote held in June 1999, 50 he needs to maintain alliances with other parties in order to get legislation passed. Also, fearing national disintegration, Wahid selected a national unity cabinet that, while representing many regions, ethnicities, and religions, has been criticized for being inexperienced and lacking internal cohesion. In effect, Wahid is operating a parliamentary-style government within a presidential system. This complicates his challenge. The Wahid government must restore the economy, maintain the unity of the Indonesian state, and reform Indonesian political, economic, and military institutions. Crucial to success in all three areas is the need to redefine the roles and missions of Tentera Nasional Indonesia (TNI), the Indonesian national military, in the national polity. Wahids success or failure bears directly and indirectly on important interests of the United States. The immediate test for the Wahid government is to hold TNI accountable for its long record of human rights abuses and economic corruption during the Suharto era. This requires institutional change as well as punishment of individual officers.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2000
Accession Number
ADA394721

Entities

People

  • Adam Schwarz
  • Gerald W. Faber
  • James J. Przystup
  • Ronald N. Montaperto

Organizations

  • National Defense University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Asia
  • Center Of Gravity
  • Education
  • Governments
  • Human Rights
  • Indonesia
  • International Organizations
  • Law
  • Military Education
  • Military Strategy
  • National Security
  • Security
  • Southeast Asia
  • Students
  • Training
  • United States
  • War Colleges

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • East Asian Political and Security Studies within the Soviet Union
  • International Relations and Conflict Resolution
  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.