Merdeka: The Struggle for Indonesian Independence and the Republic's Precarious Rise, 1945-1950

Under the slogan 'Merdeka!', the Republic of Indonesia rushed into a battle for independence - a struggle whose outcome no one could predict. Harry Poeze and Henk Schulte Nordholt provide a new narrative about the revolution, focusing not only on the fight against the Dutch but also on the precarious rise of the Republic." After the horrors of the Japanese occupation, the Republican leaders needed to somehow build a new state. From the Dutch side, they had to deal with short-sighted politicians and warmongering soldiers. On its own side, the Republic was confronted with wayward and combative youths, autonomous military leaders, conservative federalists, revolutionary communists, and radical Muslims. Coup d'états, a civil war and two Dutch military attacks threatened the survival of the Republic. That is why the victory finally achieved by the Indonesian leaders is the revolution's greatest miracle. Table of Contents Foreword 1 The Colonial State: Violence and Modernity, Resistance and Repression 1900–1941 2 The Japanese Occupation: Hope, Exploitation and Mobilisation 1942–1945 3 The Proclamation May–September 1945 4 Local Revolutions: Bersiap and Daulat October 1945 to mid-1946 5 The Dutch Reoccupation and Decolonisation 1945–1946 6 The Persatuan Perdjuangan October 1945 to May 1946 7 The Army June–July 1946 8 Diplomacy and Warfare August 1946 to January 1948 9 Federalism 1947–1948 10 Civil War February–November 1948 11 The Second Attack on the Republic October 1948–January 1949 12 Violence, Diplomacy and Independence 1949 13 Unity 1950 Epilogue Biographical Sketches of Some of the Main Characters List of Illustrations and Maps Bibliography Index