Indonesia is in the midst of an epic transition as it moves from decades of authoritarian government to a new era of democratic opening, from years of secular government to a time of struggle over the role of Islam in public life, and from the breakdown of a 'miracle' economy to a search for resilience in the face of global forces. In this timely work, leading scholars analyze the causes of the social, political, and economic crises that erupted in Indonesia in the late 1990s, the responses of the elite and civil society, and the prospects for continuing reform. In the process, they explore such issues as the relevance of the nation-state in an age of globalization, the role of Islam in politics and violence, the strengths and weaknesses of a negotiated route to democratic governance, the relationship of corruption and structural reform to economic growth, and the prospects for stability in Southeast Asia. The first book to grapple with the scale and complexity of this historic transition, this work offers a clear and compelling introduction to the Indonesian experience for students with an interest in the problems of post-colonial states, to scholars in comparative Asian studies, and to anyone seeking a serious yet accessible introduction to the world's largest Islamic democracy. A Study of the Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University

This clear and timely book presents the first sustained and structured analysis of globalization in the East Asian context, exploring the strategies used by East Asian countries to cope with the forces of globalization. Eschewing both neoliberal "hyperglobalization" chants and neorealist "globaloney" castigation, the authors integrate a broad conceptual framework with region- and country-specific case studies. Specifically, the book poses and addresses three major questions about East Asia's globalization. First, it identifies the range of contending conceptualizations of globalization that have underpinned the region's changing and contradictory views in the 1990s. Second, the book critically probes the discrepancy between promise and performance-the myths and realities-of East Asian globalization and the complex interaction of challenges and responses. Third, the authors evaluates the impacts and consequences of globalization for East Asia's political, economic, social, cultural, ecological, and security development. These questions clarify the often-murky nature, challenges, responses, and consequences of globalization, especially in light of the Asian financial crisis and moves toward recovery.

This clear and timely book presents the first sustained and structured analysis of globalization in the East Asian context, exploring the strategies used by East Asian countries to cope with the forces of globalization. Eschewing both neoliberal OhyperglobalizationO chants and neorealist OglobaloneyO castigation, the authors integrate a broad conceptual framework with region- and country-specific case studies. Specifically, the book poses and addresses three major questions about East AsiaOs globalization. First, it identifies the range of contending conceptualizations of globalization that have underpinned the regionOs changing and contradictory views in the 1990s. Second, the book critically probes the discrepancy between promise and performance_the myths and realities_of East Asian globalization and the complex interaction of challenges and responses. Third, the authors evaluates the impacts and consequences of globalization for East AsiaOs political, economic, social, cultural, ecological, and security development. These questions clarify the often-murky nature, challenges, responses, and consequences of globalization, especially in light of the Asian financial crisis and moves toward recovery.