Modern Indonesia Tradition Transformation

Youth Identities and Social Transformations in Modern Indonesia addresses current struggles and opportunities facing Indonesia’s youth across the archipelago. Contributions to this volume delve into youth aspirations and their everyday lives - education; friendship; work; leisure; sexuality; religion - described through the lens of the young people themselves.

This updated edition examines the rise of fundamentalist Islam in Indonesia and asks why the country's democratic aspirations have yet to be realized.

Many Indo-Malay martial arts are kept private, taught in secluded areas away from the public. These are arts of the older tradition, developed when combative knowledge was valued for its use in protecting the sanctity of life. This two-volume anthology brings together a great collection of writings by authors who dove into the deepest realms of Indo-Malay combatives. They offer readers a rare viewing of martial traditions that is usually hidden behind social shrouds of secrecy and a clannish quest to preserve their own martial arts. For the lead chapter in Volume 1, Dr. Philip Davies masterfully details the complex social milieu in the Indo-Malay martial tradition, focusing on the Chinese arts referred to by the ambiguous term of kuntao. His writing underlines the importance of martial arts to specific social groups, and what and how these groups practice these combative forms. As an initiate into the art of Bimi Kakti, James Wilson's chapter illustrates how beliefs and practices intertwine, especially with the animistic roots of Indonesia. The influence makes Javanese silat unique in practice as well as social standing. A main ingredient in Southeast Asian silat styles is kebatinan: "the science of the inner." Mark Wiley's chapter discusses how the blend of ancient animistic beliefs and mystical religions have given a psychological charge to silt's methods as a source of mystic power. Dr. Kirstin Pauka’s chapter reports on a rare celebration—the Pauleh Tinggi ceremony. This three-day long event occurs only when the social needs arise and may not occur again for decades. Silat performances by individuals, pairs, and groups are the primary features and go on throughout each day and night. Descriptions of the mental and physical sides of the silat performances offer readers a view of a martial tradition in which combative skills flow from an inner mystical guidance that flows through the movements. The psychic state is embodied both the art as well as social relationships. All who are serious about the history and practice of Indo-Malay fighting arts will enjoy this special anthology, volumes one and two. We are very fortunate to assemble the works of these highly qualified authors. We hope reading will provide information you seek. Although the availability of studying under a true silat mater is nearly impossible, the chapters here will certainly add direction and inspiration for practitioners.

This book raises the issue of the practice of patrimonial power with a focus on habitations, particularly in the urban areas of Indonesia. An assemblage of interdisciplinary studies within the framework of environmental humanities, covering the arts, architecture, urban studies, geography, cultural anthropology, and sociology, this multifaceted framework divulges the interactive connectivity between Indonesia’s patrimonial culture and the socio-culturally constructed system of habitation. The interdisciplinary study of the pertinent practices of patrimonial power that have been represented and been manifested by various political and traditional regimes in terms of the built environment and habitation in Indonesia contributes to a new understanding of Indonesian urban spatial development, from the pre-colonial era to the present. The book poses that in order to understand the politics of Indonesia, one must understand the culture and tradition of the political leadership of the country. The author presents such an understanding in exploring and unpacking the relationship between people and place that constructs, develops, sustains, and conserves Indonesian culture and traditions of habitation. This book is of interest to graduate scholars and researchers in Asian Studies in numerous disciplines, including urban studies, urban planning and design, political science, architecture, anthropology of space, public administration, and political philosophy.

Reinventing Indonesia presents an insider's view of the tumultuous transition that took place in Indonesia from 1997 to 2004. This was a period of unprecedented changes in democratized governance and decentralizing power throughout the country amidst significant economic turmoil. The results of these changes were not pre-ordained, but were the result of the social forces unleashed by the Asian Financial Crisis and the end of the New Order as well as the deft guidance of key policymakers. The book also examines the origins of the economic crisis of the late 1990s in Indonesia and the actions taken to address the crisis during those difficult years. The authors were directly involved in many of the events recounted in this book, particularly Ginandjar Kartasasmita through his career in the Indonesian government under various ministerial positions. Thus, the book provides insights that could only come from those directly involved in the decision-making. It also explains the transitions that occurred in Indonesia in the context of academic theories of democratic transition and consolidation, thereby adding to the body of knowledge in this area. The Indonesian story holds lessons, therefore, for the management of financial crisis, and for the urgency of reform and development of economic and political institutions. Contents:Introduction: From Independence to Democracy, a 60-Year JourneyThe Rise of the Indonesian EconomyThe Early Reform Period: 1983–1993Explaining the DemiseThe Crisis: 1997–1999The Chaos that FollowedOn the Way to Recovery and DemocracyDemocratic Consolidation: The Unfinished BusinessSignificant Milestones: Constitutional Reform and 2004 ElectionsPostscript: Promises and Challenges Readership: Academics, undergraduates and graduates, and policymakers in Asian politics; general readers with an interest in Southeast Asia. Key Features:Interprets the events of the transition period in Indonesia (primarily from 1997 to 2004) in the context of the literature on democratic transition and economic policy analysis, in an accessible mannerProvides key insights into the process of constitutional revision that laid the foundation for today's democratic institutions in IndonesiaDraws on the authors' unique perspectives as a participant in many of the major events of the periodKeywords:Indonesia;New Order;Megawati Sukarnoputri;Gus Dur;Abdurrahman Wahid;Habibie;Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono;Democracy;Consolidation;Decentralization;MPR;DPR;Asian Financial CrisisReviews: “In this book, we learn a great deal about what went wrong in the final years under President Suharto, how policymakers understood the problems confronting Indonesia, and what they did to overcome the political and economic crises. This book is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the collapse of Indonesia's New Order regime and the transition from centralized authoritarianism to decentralized democracy, as well as the causes and consequences of the East Asian Economic Crisis.” Professor Takashi Shiraishi President, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), Japan “Professor Ginandjar Kartasasmita and Dr Joseph J Stern offer a unique, detailed, and well-documented account of the last years of the New Order and the first years of Reformasi. Their book blends an insider's view of the events of that period with scholarly insights that place events within a larger intellectual framework. At the same time, they bring out the personalities at play during this period and highlight the importance of individual choices by historically important figures. I was struck time and again by how different the result could have been if leaders of a different character had been in charge at critical moments. This volume should be required reading for anyone studying this turbulent period of Indonesia's history.” Timothy Buehrer Chief of Party, ASEAN Connectivity through Trade and Investment (ACTI) The ASEAN Secretariat, Indonesia “Co-authored by a key architect of the Indonesian reforms and a keen longtime observer, Reinventing Indonesia is a fascinating analysis of political and economic change in a vast, complex, and important country. With ten years of useful hindsight and with our growing knowledge of how other countries have fared in their own transitions, we now know that such peace and prosperity as Indonesia has achieved are to be preciously valued and carefully protected. Not only is Indonesia to be praised, but the world should study and heed its good example.” Steven B Bloomfield Executive Director, Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Harvard University