Politics in Indonesia: Democracy, Islam and the Ideology of Tolerance (Politics in Asia) (Paperback)

Politics in Indonesia desribes the attitudes, aspirations and frustrations of the key players in Indonesian politics as they struggle to shape the future. Although Indonesia is sometimes seen as a "closed" political system, Douglas E. Ramage makes it clear that in fact real questions are being asked about the future of the political order in Indonesia.

Politics in Indonesia focuses on the role of political Islam and shows that the state has been remarkably sucessful in maintaining secular political institutions in a predominantly Muslim society. Ramage analyzes the way in which political questions are framed with reference to the national ideology, the Pancasila, and explores the ways in which Indonesia's political, military, religous, democratic and intellectual leaders employ the Pancasila to strengthen their own political power.