Democratic Achievement and Policy Paralysis: Implications for Indonesia’s Continued Ascent

Indonesia has experienced an astonishing transformation over the last 15 years. Once among the political laggards of Southeast Asia under the regime of Suharto, it has turned itself into the best-functioning democracy in the region. Compared with Malaysia and Thailand’s political logjams and one-party rule in Cambodia, Vietnam and Singapore, Indonesia is a home for vigorous and healthy political competition. Indonesia has experienced four peaceful transfers of power in mostly well-organized and fair elections, and free expression and the media are flourishing; nongovernment organizations and social movements such as organized labor are increasingly prominent. Furthermore, there are signs of growing political awareness and assertiveness on the part of the electorate, exhibiting a number of interesting examples of the use of new media to campaign around issues and grievances.1