Language and Power: Exploring Political Cultures in Indonesia (Wilder House Series in Politics, History, and Culture) [Hardcover]

Benedict R. O'G Anderson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Wilder House Series in Politics, History, and Culture | Publication Date: February 1991

In this lively book, Benedict R. O'G. Anderson explores the cultural and political contradictions that have arisen from two critical facts in Indonesian history: that while the Indonesian nation is young, the Indonesian nation is ancient originating in the early seventeenth-century Dutch conquests; and that contemporary politics are conducted in a new language. Bahasa Indonesia, by peoples (especially the Javanese) whose cultures are rooted in medieval times. Analyzing a spectrum of examples from classical poetry to public monuments and cartoons, Anderson deepens our understanding of the interaction between modern and traditional notions of power, the mediation of power by language, and the development of national consciousness. Language and Power, now republished as part of Equinox Publishing's Classic Indonesia series, brings together eight of Anderson's most influential essays over the past two decades and is essential reading for anyone studying the Indonesian country, people or language. Benedict Anderson is one of the world's leading authorities on Southeast Asian nationalism and particularly on Indonesia. He is Professor of International Studies and Director of the Modern Indonesia Project at Cornell University, New York. His other works include Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism and The Spectre of Comparisons: Nationalism, Southeast Asia, and the World.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Cornell Univ Pr (February 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801423546
• ISBN-13: 978-0801423543
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,813,080 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Benedict Anderson is Aaron L. Binenkorp Professor of International Studies Emeritus at Cornell University. He is editor of the journal Indonesia and author of Java in a Time of Revolution, The Spectre of Comparisons: Nationalism, Southeast Asia, and the World and Imagined Communities.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read Book To Begin Understanding Indonesian Politics, July 31, 2000

By 

rinabambina - See all my reviews

This review is from: Language and Power: Exploring Political Cultures in Indonesia (Cornell Studies in Political Economy) (Paperback)

Within his collection of essays in this book, Anderson explores the underlying cultures of Indonesian politics. He ties back the political atmosphere of Indonesia to the social values of the most dominant culture in Indonesia, the Javanese culture. These essays were written prior to 1984 (mostly in the late 60's), but their contents relate well even to the present political scenes of Indonesia.

As an American citizen with Indonesian ancestry, I find that this book would help anyone who is interested in learning the complexity of Indonesia's sociopolitical arena. A lot of misunderstandings about Indonesia's politics can be cleared by reading this book. This book does not talk about the current political scenes, rather it explains the origins of political values that are dominant in Indonesia even today.