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Indonesia, an unlikely democracy

Jonathan Stromseth,
Jonathan Stromseth, Lee Kuan Yew Chair in Southeast Asian Studies; Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy, Center for East Asia Policy Studies, John L. Thornton China Center
Jonathan Stromseth Lee Kuan Yew Chair in Southeast Asian Studies, Senior Fellow - Foreign Policy, Center for Asia Policy Studies, John L. Thornton China Center

Thomas Pepinsky, and
Thomas Pepinsky, associate professor of government (GOVT).
Thomas Pepinsky Nonresident Senior Fellow - Foreign Policy, Center for Asia Policy Studies

Fred Dews
Fred Dews Managing Editor, New Digital Products - Office of Communications

March 15, 2019

A large Indonesian flag is carried over the crowd at a rally calling for national unity and tolerance in central Jakarta, Indonesia December 4, 2016. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside - RC127395AEE0
  • 1 min read

Indonesia, a presidential democracy, is the largest Muslim-majority nation in the world and the fourth most populated on earth. It is also the largest nation in Southeast Asia—Indonesia’s archipelago of over 18,000 islands stretches the distance from Seattle to Boston. In this episode, Senior Fellow Jonathan Stromseth interviews Tom Pepinsky, a professor at Cornell University and nonresident senior fellow at Brookings, about democracy in Indonesia. The two discuss the history of Indonesia’s transition to democracy, the upcoming (in April) presidential election, the roles of Islam and the military, and relations between Indonesia and the United States.

Also, on today’s show, Senior Fellow Molly Reynolds offers her regular insight
into what’s happening in congress.

Related content:

Democracy at a crossroads in Southeast Asia: Great power rivalry meets domestic governance

Power and diplomacy in Southeast Asia

Intro to Southeast Asia: Diversity, security, and politics

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Authors

Jonathan Stromseth, Lee Kuan Yew Chair in Southeast Asian Studies; Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy, Center for East Asia Policy Studies, John L. Thornton China Center
Jonathan Stromseth Lee Kuan Yew Chair in Southeast Asian Studies, Senior Fellow - Foreign Policy, Center for Asia Policy Studies, John L. Thornton China Center

Thomas Pepinsky, associate professor of government (GOVT).
Thomas Pepinsky Nonresident Senior Fellow - Foreign Policy, Center for Asia Policy Studies

Fred Dews Managing Editor, New Digital Products - Office of Communications
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Foreign Policy

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Asia & the Pacific Southeast Asia

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Center for Asia Policy Studies