Opposing Suharto: Compromise, Resistance, and Regime Change in Indonesia (Contemporary Issues in Asia and the Pacific)

Opposing Suharto presents an account of democratization in the world’s fourth most populous country, Indonesia. It describes how opposition groups challenged the long-time ruler, President Suharto, and his military-based regime, forcing him to resign in 1998. The book’s main purpose is to explain how ordinary people can bring about political change in a repressive authoritarian regime. It does this by telling the story of an array of dissident groups, nongovernmental organizations, student activists, and political party workers as they tried to expand democratic space in the last decade of Suharto’s rule. This book is an important study not only for readers interested in contemporary Indonesia and political change in Asia, but also for all those interested in democratization processes elsewhere in the world. Unlike most other books on Indonesia, and unlike many books on democratization, it provides an account from the perspective of those who were struggling to bring about change. Opposing Suharto presents an account of democratization in the world's fourth most populous country, Indonesia. It describes how opposition groups challenged the long-time ruler, President Suharto, and his military-based regime, forcing him to resign in 1998. The book's main purpose is to explain how ordinary people can bring about political change in a repressive authoritarian regime. It does this by telling the story of an array of dissident groups, nongovernmental organizations, student activists, and political party workers as they tried to expand democratic space in the last decade of Suharto's rule. This book is an important study not only for readers interested in contemporary Indonesia and political change in Asia, but also for all those interested in democratization processes elsewhere in the world. Unlike most other books on Indonesia, and unlike many books on democratization, it provides an account from the perspective of those who were struggling to bring about change. Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 Preface 12 1. Regime and Opposition 18 2. Suharto’s New Order: Origins and Opening 37 3. Regime Friction and Elite Dissidence 66 4. Proto-opposition: NGOs and the Legal Aid Institute 103 5. Student Activism: From Moral Force to Popular Mobilization 133 6. Megawati Soekarnoputri and the PDI 162 7. Prelude to the Fall: The 1996 Crisis and Its Aftermath 194 8. The Fall of Suharto 219 9. Indonesia’s Opposition and Democratic Transition in Comparative Perspective 256 10. Legacies of Suharto and His Opposition 286 Notes 292 Glossary 310 A 310 B 310 C 310 D 310 F 310 G 311 H 311 I 311 K 311 L 312 M 312 N 312 O 312 P 313 R 313 S 313 U 314 W 314 Y 314 Bibliography 316 Index 332 A 332 B 333 C 333 D 334 E 334 F 335 G 335 H 335 I 336 J 336 K 337 L 337 M 338 N 339 O 340 P 340 R 341 S 342 T 344 U 344 V 345 W 345 X 345 Y 345 Z 345 Regime And Opposition -- Suharto's New Order : Origins And Opening -- Regime Friction And Elite Dissidence -- Proto-opposition : Ngos And The Legal Aid Institute -- Student Activism : From Moral Force To Popular Mobilization -- Megawati Soekarnoputri And The Pdi -- Prelude To The Fall : The 1996 Crisis And Its Aftermath -- The Fall Of Suharto -- Indonesia's Opposition And Democratic Transition In Comparative Perspective -- Legacies Of Suharto And His Opposition. Edward Aspinall. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [299]-314) And Index. This account of democratization in Indonesia describes how opposition groups challenged the long-time ruler, President Suharto, and his military-based regime, forcing him to resign in 1998. The book's main purpose is to explain how ordinary people can bring about political change in a repressive authoritarian regime This senior Indonesian journalist's comment neatly sums up the dilemma facing Indonesians who wanted democratization during the Suharto years.