A History of Modern Indonesia

Description

Since the Bali bombings of 2002 and the rise of political Islam, Indonesia has frequently occupied media headlines. Nevertheless, the history of the fourth largest country on earth remains relatively unknown. Adrian Vickers' book, first published in 2005, traces the history of an island country, comprising some 240 million people, from the colonial period through revolution and independence to the present. Framed around the life story of Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Indonesia's most famous and controversial novelist and playwright, the book journeys through the social and cultural mores of Indonesian society, focusing on the experiences of ordinary people. In this new edition, the author brings the story up to date, revisiting his argument as to why Indonesia has yet to realise its potential as a democratic country. He also examines the rise of fundamentalist Islam, which has haunted Indonesia since the fall of Suharto.

Adrian Vickers is Professor of Southeast Asian Studies and Director of Asian Studies at the School of Languages and Cultures, University of Sydney. He is author of the acclaimed Bali: A Paradise Created (1989). In 2003 he curated the exhibition Crossing Boundaries, a major survey of modern Indonesian art, and he has also been involved in documentary films, including Done Bali (1993).