Military Ideology in Response to Democratic Pressure During the Late Suharto Era: Political and Institutional Contexts
Author(s)
Honna, Jun
Abstract
In the 1990’s, some in the New Order political society began to advocate democratization as a means of ensuring Indonesia’s success in an increasingly globalized geopolitical environment. In response to democratic pressures against the repressive nature of the Suharto regime, the Armed Forces of the Republic of Indonesia (ABRI) adjusted their ideological framework in order to counter these liberal challenges. This rhetorical reorganization defensively sought to identify globalism as a threat to Indonesia’s national security. This new approach justified a hardline policy toward democratic movements. Societal and political pressures in these years sometimes strained President Suharto’s relationship with the state military, leading to frequent shuffling of the ABRI leadership.
