SUSILO BAMBANG YUDHOYONO AND HIS GENERALS

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by Leonard C. Sebastian
The Indonesian National Military (TNI, Tentera Nasional Indonesia) may no longer be the most dominant player in Indonesian politics but has pragmatically incorporated a strategy that enables it to play a significant “behind the scenes” role.
The situation in Indonesia today has closer parallels with the state of civil military relations in Germany between the two World Wars or France in 1958.1 In analysing the TNI relationship with the Yudhoyono presidency, this paper argues that Dr Yudhoyono enjoys the loyalty and trust of the TNI elite. The current relationship can be defined as partnership where the President protects the institutional interests of the TNI while insulating it from excessive reform measures that might impede its effectiveness and in return benefits from the assurance that the TNI will secure his Presidency. Policy Brief: No 1/2007 January 2007

Realpolitik Ideology: Indonesia's Use of Military Force
by Leonard C. Sebastian

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Price:  US$38.42   (SGD49.90*)
Format:  Paper Back, 559 pages
Published:  2006, Singapore, 1st Edition
ISBN:  9789812303103

Realpolitik Ideology: Indonesia's Use of Military Force presents path-breaking research on the Indonesian military (TNI) going beyond traditional scholarship on the TNI's dual function or dwifungsi which has been one of the dominating fields of analysis in Indonesian studies since the 1970s. Addressed to political scientists, sociologists, historians, anthropologists and defence practitioners, this book interprets security policy in terms of its social roots asserting that the realpolitik behaviour of the TNI has strong "socio-cultural" undertones, which in turn shape the development of military doctrine. The argument made in the book is that only through a better understanding of the doctrines that reinforced the military's significant presence in Indonesian affairs and their subsequent restructuring can Indonesia's policy-makers attempt meaningful reform of the TNI. Readable, accessible and yet exhaustively researched, Realpolitik Ideology examines the origins and development of ideas on security from the point of view of the TNI and explains why civil-military relations are still fraught with uncertainty, and why the recent changes in military ideology, removal of military posts in the legislature, ongoing divestment of its business, and other measures still do not guarantee that the military will not intervene in the affairs of state.

Among its many valuable contributions, this book details:

. the background to Indonesian concepts of national security
. internal operations and the weak infrastructural power of the state, with an excellent discussion on the intelligence agencies
. concepts for external defence, according to the TNI, including Indonesia's important but little-known contribution to UN peacekeepingmissions
. defence and national security planning
. the most recent laws relating to national security and the role of the military in Indonesia. Realpolitik Ideology offers suggestions about how to redefine concepts of national security to increase civil and democratic space and accountabilities and redress the historic imbalances between the civilian government and the military in Indonesia.

Policy Brief: No 1/2007 January 2007

In analysing the TNI relationship with the Yudhoyono presidency, this paper argues that Dr Yudhoyono enjoys the loyalty and trust of the TNI elite. The current relationship can be defined as partnership where the President protects the institutional interests of the TNI while insulating it from excessive reform measures that might impede its effectiveness and in return benefits from the assurance that the TNI will secure his Presidency.

The Army and Politics in Indonesia
By Harold Crouch

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Publisher: Equinox | ISBN: 9793780509 | edition 2007 | DJVU | 388 pages | 43 mb
"A comprehensive description of the Indonesian Army's history of political involvement. Crouch's incredible knowledge of so many facets of intrigue and manipulation, of names, dates, enemies and friends, and specific circumstances under which each attempted coup and counter effort was made if phenomenal. His attention to the supporting literature and his own personal experiences in-country certainly would indicate that Mr. Crouch is a - if not the - leading expert in this complex and bewildering subject.  Highly recommended. "Perspective: Reviews of New Books in Political Science "The author has produced the most thorough and balanced account of contemporary Indonesian politics yet to appear in print." - Canadian Journal of Political Science "A valuable contribution to our knowledge of modern Indonesia." - Journal of Southeast Asian Studies In this highly-respected work, Harold Crouch analyzes the role of the Indonesian Army in that country's politics, putting special emphasis on the Sukarno years, the gradual takeover of power by the military, and the nature of Suharto's New Order government. The Army and Politics in Indonesia is now updated with a new preface and epilogue that expands the book's coverage to the 1980s.
HAROLD CROUCH is a Senior Fellow in the Department of Political and Social Change, Research School of Pacific and AsianStudies, Australian National University where his research is concerned with Southeast Asian politics. He taught political science at the University of Indonesia in Jakarta from 1968 to 1971 and in the Department of Political Science at theNational University of Malaysia from 1976 to 1990.

Suharto and His Generals: Indonesian Military Politics, 1975-1983
by David Jenkins – 1984

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“Suharto and His Generals” was banned in Indonesia in 1984 due to its in-depth
and critical analysis of the political situation at the time.
It tackles the complex military and the parallel government political structure of the
country, as well as opposition against the state, which was mainly led by retired generals.
Jenkins described Suharto, who was in power for 32 years, as someone who kept his subordinates guessing.
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