Indonesian politics in 2009: defective elections, resilient democracy

Abstract

Abstract The many problems encountered in managing the 2009 elections, including contested outcomes and post-election political bickering, point to continuing defects in Indonesia's democracy. At the same time, the country has demonstrated a degree of democratic resilience. While the results of the April legislative elections confirm a slow but steady change in electoral politics, the July presidential election also highlights a degree of continuity through the re-election of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. However, the incumbent's landslide victory does not guarantee that his second term will be more effective than the first. Democracy will still face a host of challenges emanating from persistent problems of governance and resurgent terrorist threats. Nonetheless, there are reasons to believe that Indonesia will continue to display a remarkable degree of resilience in withstanding those challenges.