The Difficult Journey of Democratization in Indonesia

Abstract

Based on the current literature on democratization in Indonesia is not yet consolidated. The masses and elites need to learn to adjust their political practices and institutions to modern liberal political behavior. This article argues that democratization may be more fruitful if seen from an Indonesian context. In Indonesias political history western ideas of liberalization and freedom and local and political ideas such as the New Orders Pancasila democracy religious and traditional attitudes and mass movements inspire many of the political practices in post-Soharto politics. It is through exchanges of those ideas political practices and institutional experiences that new social agreements on the future form of in Indonesia will emerge. (authors)