| A Country in Despair: Indonesia Between 1997 and 2000 Contributor(s): Van Dijk (Author) |
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ISBN: 9067181609 ISBN-13: 9789067181600 Publisher: Brill OUR PRICE: $42.75 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: January 2001 Annotation: This book traces recent developments in Indonesia, opening with the explosion of violence preceding the general election of May 1997, and ending with developments in November and December 2000. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - History | Asia - Southeast Asia - Political Science | Comparative Politics - History | Europe - General |
| Dewey: 959 |
| Series: Verhandelingen Van Het Koninklijk Instituut Voor Taal-, Land |
| Physical Information: 1.3" H x 6.32" W x 9.42" (2.16 lbs) 632 pages |
| Themes: - Chronological Period - 20th Century - Cultural Region - Southeast Asian |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: In late 1997 Indonesia's economy went into a tail-spin, culminating in social and political upheavals that saw Soeharto's resignation in May 1998, and resulting in a succession of presidents as Indonesia entered a period of democratization. These events are well known, even to casual observers, but Kees van Dijk has penned a magnificent account of Indonesia between 1997 and 2000 that fleshes out the story in rich detail and analysis. The volume itself closes as the soon to be ousted President Abdurrahman Wahid is facing two major corruption, collusion, and nepotism (korupsi, kolusi, and nepotisme or KKN) scandals and the political forces are arraying against him. The author has clearly sifted through a mountain of materials, principally Indonesian language newspaper sources, to bring about an excellent chronicle. At 621 pages, this is quite a large book--and one can only marvel at the way in which a vast array of sources have been combined. Despite its size and detail it is a thoroughly absorbing read--especially if one is already familiar with the events and characters that set the stage for a political and social transformation. The main substantive chapters of the book are supplemented by a large number of helpful appendices (showing political parties, cabinet line-ups, military leaders, a glossary, and so on). |