Local Power and Politics in Indonesia: Decentralisation & Democratisation

by Edward Aspinall (Contributor)

Indonesia is experiencing an historic and dramatic shift in political and economic power from the centre to the local level. The collapse of the highly centralised Soeharto regime allowed long-repressed local aspirations to come to the fore. The new Indonesian Government then began one of the world’s most radical decentralisation programmes, under which extensive powers are being devolved to the district level. In every region and province, diverse popular movements and local claimants to state power are challenging the central authorities. This book is the first comprehensive coverage on decentralisation in Indonesia. It contains contributions from leading academics and policy-makers on a wide range of topics relating to democratisation, devolution and the blossoming of local-level politics.

Paperback

First published April 30, 2003

About the author

Edward Aspinall is professor of politics at the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, Australian National University.