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"How can such a gentle people as we are be so murderous?" a prominent Indonesian asks. That question--and the mysteries of the archipelago's vast contradictions--haunt Theodore Friend's remarkable work, a narrative of Indonesia during the last half century, from the postwar revolution against Dutch imperialism to the unrest of today. Part history, part meditation on a place and a past observed firsthand, Indonesian Destinies penetrates events that gave birth to the world's fourth largest nation and assesses the continuing dangers that threaten to tear it apart. Friend reveals Sukarno's character through wartime collaboration with Japan, and Suharto's through the mass murder of communists that brought him to power for thirty-two years. He guides our understanding of the tolerant forms of Islam prevailing among the largest Muslim population in the world, and shows growing tensions generated by international terrorism. Drawing on a deep knowledge of the country's cultures, its leaders, and its ordinary people, Friend gives a human face and a sense of immediacy to the self-inflicted failures and immeasurable tragedies that cast a shadow over Indonesia's past and future. A clear and compelling passion shines through this richly illustrated work. Rarely have narrative history and personal historical witness been so seamlessly joined. Table of Contents: Prologue: The Largest Muslim Nation Part I Sukarno 1. Indonesia, the Devouring Nurturer 2. Guided Chaos 3. Ego, Voice, Vertigo 4. Mass Murder Part II Suharto 5. The Smile of Progress 6. The New Majapahit Empire 7. The Sound of Silence 8. The Last Years of Living Securely 9. Behind, Beyond, Beneath the Power Structure 10. Indonesia Burning Part III Succession 11. Forcing Out Suharto 12. Stroke 13. New Leaders, New Islam 14. Election 1999: Reds, Greens, Blues, Yellows 15. East Timor 16. Anarcho-Democracy Epilogue: Sukarno's Daughter in the Palace Chronology Sources Notes Glossary Index Reviews of this book: An engaging romp through the 54 years of Indonesia's existence, its scope is a broad one. Part personal memoir, part history, part economic treatise, it makes for a useful (and bang up-to-date) introduction to the unknown archipelago, particularly valuable in light of the absence of much in the way of competition.--The EconomistReviews of this book: Mr. Friend.succeeds in making Indonesia comprehensible because he uses a wealth of contemporary Indonesian contacts to paint a lively historical, sociological, anthropological and at times gossipy portrait of the country.For those who know little about Indonesia and for those who know much, this is a captivating rendition.--Jane Perlez, New York TimesFor foreigners and Indonesians alike, Theodore Friend's book is a rich informative source to better understand the country's post-colonial history. This scholarly work has an engaging, often reflective narrative style that is always full of details from numerous interviews conducted since the writer first started visiting the country, sometime in 1967-1968.--Mohammad Sadli, Jakarta PostThis is an outstanding general history of Indonesia over the four and a half decades since its troubled independence, won after 300 years of Dutch colonial rule. But it is also a reliable, insightful guide to the dynamics of current Indonesian politics, and the troubled but principled and (so far) surprisingly robust presidency of Megawati Sukarnoputri.[Friend] enjoyed exceptional access to the nation's key leaders during the dramatic transition to democracy in 1998-2000. His consequent blending of scholarship and hands-on direct experience informs every page of this book.--Martin Sieff, Washington TimesReviews of this book: [Fri… (más)
For recent history one could do worse than reading “Indonesian Destinies” (2003), written by Theodore Friend. The book deals comprehensively with Indonesia’s post-independence history, the three blocks: the Sukarno years, the Suharto years, and the change to democracy after Suharto stepped down. Mr Friend obviously knows his subject, and knows and has met an incredible amount of people, which has resulted in a very detailed account, in which the story line is occasionally a little lost – perhaps the book would have benefitted from tighter editing, leaving out some of the more personal stories, and some of the specifically American public-oriented explanations, as well as cutting down on what to me looks like non-contributing detail. Having said that, some of the personal stories are entertaining, even if not necessarily adding to a better understanding. For those who want to understand the Indonesia of today, and have time and patience. ( )
I recently moved to Indonesia and was looking for something in English that was more current affairs than history. This has a lot of current history, but way too much gossip and too learned references for a non-specialist. I got through it though, and it helps to explain some of what I see around me. ( )
"How can such a gentle people as we are be so murderous?" a prominent Indonesian asks. That question--and the mysteries of the archipelago's vast contradictions--haunt Theodore Friend's remarkable work, a narrative of Indonesia during the last half century, from the postwar revolution against Dutch imperialism to the unrest of today. Part history, part meditation on a place and a past observed firsthand, Indonesian Destinies penetrates events that gave birth to the world's fourth largest nation and assesses the continuing dangers that threaten to tear it apart. Friend reveals Sukarno's character through wartime collaboration with Japan, and Suharto's through the mass murder of communists that brought him to power for thirty-two years. He guides our understanding of the tolerant forms of Islam prevailing among the largest Muslim population in the world, and shows growing tensions generated by international terrorism. Drawing on a deep knowledge of the country's cultures, its leaders, and its ordinary people, Friend gives a human face and a sense of immediacy to the self-inflicted failures and immeasurable tragedies that cast a shadow over Indonesia's past and future. A clear and compelling passion shines through this richly illustrated work. Rarely have narrative history and personal historical witness been so seamlessly joined. Table of Contents: Prologue: The Largest Muslim Nation Part I Sukarno 1. Indonesia, the Devouring Nurturer 2. Guided Chaos 3. Ego, Voice, Vertigo 4. Mass Murder Part II Suharto 5. The Smile of Progress 6. The New Majapahit Empire 7. The Sound of Silence 8. The Last Years of Living Securely 9. Behind, Beyond, Beneath the Power Structure 10. Indonesia Burning Part III Succession 11. Forcing Out Suharto 12. Stroke 13. New Leaders, New Islam 14. Election 1999: Reds, Greens, Blues, Yellows 15. East Timor 16. Anarcho-Democracy Epilogue: Sukarno's Daughter in the Palace Chronology Sources Notes Glossary Index Reviews of this book: An engaging romp through the 54 years of Indonesia's existence, its scope is a broad one. Part personal memoir, part history, part economic treatise, it makes for a useful (and bang up-to-date) introduction to the unknown archipelago, particularly valuable in light of the absence of much in the way of competition.--The EconomistReviews of this book: Mr. Friend.succeeds in making Indonesia comprehensible because he uses a wealth of contemporary Indonesian contacts to paint a lively historical, sociological, anthropological and at times gossipy portrait of the country.For those who know little about Indonesia and for those who know much, this is a captivating rendition.--Jane Perlez, New York TimesFor foreigners and Indonesians alike, Theodore Friend's book is a rich informative source to better understand the country's post-colonial history. This scholarly work has an engaging, often reflective narrative style that is always full of details from numerous interviews conducted since the writer first started visiting the country, sometime in 1967-1968.--Mohammad Sadli, Jakarta PostThis is an outstanding general history of Indonesia over the four and a half decades since its troubled independence, won after 300 years of Dutch colonial rule. But it is also a reliable, insightful guide to the dynamics of current Indonesian politics, and the troubled but principled and (so far) surprisingly robust presidency of Megawati Sukarnoputri.[Friend] enjoyed exceptional access to the nation's key leaders during the dramatic transition to democracy in 1998-2000. His consequent blending of scholarship and hands-on direct experience informs every page of this book.--Martin Sieff, Washington TimesReviews of this book: [Fri
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