Half-Hearted Reform: Electoral Institutions and the Struggle for Democracy in Indonesia

King provides the most comprehensive analysis to date of the reforms in the core institutions of democratic representation, political parties, elections, and legislatures that led the way from late 1998 through 2001. These reforms are placed in historical perspective, compared both with the electoral institutions of Suharto’s New Order and with the first democratic election in 1955. King also examines the political struggles during the legislative process and identifies the compromises reached between hardliners and reformers. The new electoral policies are juxtaposed to actual practices-imlpementation-during the 1999 election at both the national and subnational levels, the latter through a case study in the heartland of Java.

The bases of voters’ choice-election results-are explained using multivariate analysis. A key finding is that social-based voting has remained stronger than expected. King’s analysis then considers the postelection, second wave of electoral reform that focused on the Electoral Commission and amendments to the Constitution. Lastly, King compares Indonesia’s political reforms with those of the Philippines and Thailand. In sum, this book is indispensable to understanding the extent of Indonesia’s political reforms, why the installation of electoral democracy succeeded, and the prospects for the consolidation of democracy. Of particular interst to scholars, students, and other researchers interested in political transitions in general and in Southeast Asia in particular.