Constitutional Change and Democracy in Indonesia [Hardcover]

This is the story of how democracy became entrenched in the world's largest Muslim-majority country.This is the story of how democracy became entrenched in the world's largest Muslim-majority country. Indonesia was threatened by a possibility of deadlock over a new constitution and by violence between Islamic and secular groups. It managed to overcome these divisions by adopting an unconventional, gradual course of constitutional amendment that made consensus possible. The Indonesians also adopted political institutions that preserved their political pluralism and provided incentives for politicians to behave moderately. As a result, Indonesia has managed to hold multiple elections and to transfer power peacefully.This is the story of how democracy became entrenched in the world's largest Muslim-majority country. Indonesia was threatened by a possibility of deadlock over a new constitution and by violence between Islamic and secular groups. It managed to overcome these divisions by adopting an unconventional, gradual course of constitutional amendment that made consensus possible. The Indonesians also adopted political institutions that preserved their political pluralism and provided incentives for politicians to behave moderately. As a result, Indonesia has managed to hold multiple elections and to transfer power peacefully.After the fall of its authoritarian regime in 1998, Indonesia pursued an unusual course of democratization. It was insider-dominated and gradualist, and it involved free elections before a lengthy process of constitutional reform. At the end of the process, Indonesia's amended constitution was essentially a new and thoroughly democratic document. By proceeding as they did, the Indonesians averted the conflict that would have arisen between adherents of the old constitution and proponents of radical, immediate reform. Gradual reform also made possible the adoption of institutions that preserved pluralism and pushed politics toward the center. Thl(