Analyzing Indonesian Politics: From New Order to Present

In Indonesian politics, the shadows of the New Order frequently emerge, offering nostalgia for stability and warnings about concentrated power. Michael R.J. Vatikiotis’s article ‘Indonesian Politics under Soeharto…’ provides an analytical framework for understanding those years and contemporary times, particularly under President Prabowo Subianto. The New Order built its power on three pillars: military dominance, centralization of power, and economic legitimacy. Eventually, this system collapsed due to a lack of democracy and accountability. Today, Indonesia once again faces challenges of power concentration and questions about developing into a mature democracy.