A Nation in Waiting: Indonesia in the 1990s

A Nation in Waiting lifts the veil on Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s quiet giant. Written in an engaging and easy-to-read style, it captures the fascinating debate in Indonesia today on where the nation is heading. Spanning a wide variety of contemporary issues, it offers a detailed and thought-provoking glimpse of one of the world’s largest and least understood nations. It chronicles the impressive economic development Indonesia has enjoyed under the 27-year leadership of President Soeharto as well as the difficult challenges which lie ahead.

Using a wealth of first-hand information, Adam Schwarz gives life to the heated debates on economic policy, corruption and the controversial role of ethnic-Chinese entrepreneurs. The book analyses the political demands of Indonesia’s Muslim community, the mishandled incorporation of East Timor, the emerging debate on human rights, and the thorny problem of arranging a smooth transition of power. The underlying theme of the book is the widening gap between an increasingly modernised economy and a rigid political system that is struggling to keep up with the times. The task of matching political development with economic growth will be the central challenge for this enigmatic country in the 1990s. All those with an interest in Indonesia will find in this book invaluable insights into how politics and business are conducted in the world’s fourth largest nation.

‘Adam Schwarz has lived in Jakarta at an exciting time. He gives a vivid picture of the current struggle for change.’

Bill Liddle, Ohio State University

‘Schwarz’s many pen-portraits of individuals and particular events draw on his greatest strengths as an experienced foreign journalist in Indonesia, especially his deep knowledge of the inner workings of the system.

Jamie Mackie, Australian National University