Shared Hopes, Separate Fears: Fifty Years Of U.s.-indonesian Relations [Hardcover]

Paul F Gardner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 6, 1997

This book traces the often tumultuous history of U.S-Indonesian relations as experienced by those who witnessed it in the making. Incorporating the perspectives of participants from both nations, Paul Gardner focuses on a number of key phases in the relationship: the U.S. role in Indonesia’s struggle for independence; the strains of the Cold War era, including covert U.S. support for Indonesian rebels in Sumatra and Sulawesi; U.S. mediation of the dispute over western New Guinea; the communist “coup” in 1965 and its violent aftermath; and the crucial U.S. role in organizing a multinational recovery effort for Indonesia’s economy after the creation of its New Order in 1968. The book also addresses current issues, including economic differences, democratic development, and East Timor, and other human rights concerns.Gardner, himself a witness of key events, draws on interviews, personal papers, and recently declassified documents to provide an intimate view of the aspirations, insights, and acts of courage that built the Indonesian relationship; the fears, intrigue, and blunders that threatened it; and the complex issues the two nations face today.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Paul F. Gardner, a retired U.S. Foreign Service Officer, lived in Indonesia for nearly ten years.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Westview Press (February 6, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813331900
• ISBN-13: 978-0813331904
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,730,018 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Not a bad place to start, November 19, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Shared Hopes, Separate Fears: Fifty Years Of U.s.-indonesian Relations (Hardcover)

This book is a useful introduction to the history of US-Indonesian relations. The prospective reader is cautioned, however, that the author has a bias in favor of the Indonesians, who apparently can do little wrong and are constantly misunderstood. It's a classic case of a former US diplomat's having "gone native."