Nation in Waiting: Indonesia's Search for Stability (South Asian Studies) [Paperback]

Adam Schwarz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2000 | ISBN-10: 1865081795 | ISBN-13: 978-1865081793 | Edition: 2

For those who seek an understanding of the politics and social dynamics of contemporary Indonesia, there is no better starting point. Jamie Mackie, Asian Wall Street Journal one of the most important books on Asia in many years...[Adam Schwarz's] book is measured, thoughtful and intensely readable. David Jenkins, Sydney Morning Herald . beautifully written, evocative and wide-ranging. It is truly an outstanding work . Merle Rickles, The Australian In this second edition of Adam Schwarz's highly acclaimed A Nation in Waiting, the story of contemporary Indonesia is brought right up to date. With two new chapters covering the collapse of the economy, the fall of Soeharto, the presidency of B.J. Habibie, the process of democratic reform and the major social and political challenges facing Indonesia, Adam Schwarz offers a vivid and rare behind-the-scenes picture of a nation's struggle for change. A Nation in Waiting lifts the veil on Indonesia of the 1980s and 1990s and spans a wide variety of contemporary issues to offer a detailed and thought-provoking glimpse of one of the world's least understood nations. Using a wealth of first-ha

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Adam Schwarz is editor-in-chief of AsiaWise.com, an online finance investment publication based in Hong Kong.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: Allen & Unwin; 2 edition (July 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1865081795
• ISBN-13: 978-1865081793
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,517,325 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Primer on Modern Indonesia, July 28, 2004

By 

Adrian Kok "somniloquist" (Singapore) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Nation in Waiting : Indonesia's Search for Stability (Paperback)

It covers the period from Indonesia's struggle for independence from the Dutch under Sukarno in the late 40's until the end of the 20th century. Its history is as varied as the expanse of its territory. It ranges from the extremes of its economic cycle to the ethnic clashes between the pribumis and Chinese, from the corruption and fall of the Suharto regime to the genocidal occupation of East Timor.

The author covers each of the above topics in great detail - in addition, he describes the role of Islam in the politics of the country, the influence of the military and the characteristics of the Javanese system of patronage. Each topic is well covered, but for the book as a whole lacks cohesion. It does not detract too much from the content - but potential readers should note that its light on analysis and heavy on factual presentation.

Living in Malaysia and Singapore for most of this period, this book was my first introduction to Indonesia's chequered past. Its neighbours are understandably cautious in how they present views on the largest country in Southeast Asia - controversial news
is often considered sensitive and carefully edited to avoid inflaming the parties involved. For this, I'm glad to have read this book - it was a comprehensive primer on the recent history of modern Indonesia.