Indonesia: defining new options in the socio-political role of the Indonesian Armed Forces/ Harry Haryono

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to analyze civil-military relations in Indonesia since independence in 1949 through the resignation of President Suharto in mid 1998. It will examine the military's exercise of power by using the prerogatives and contestations as defined by Alfred Stepan. The Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) has been deeply involved in socio- political roles since the struggle for independence against the Dutch. Most scholars consider the New Order regime (1966-1998) to have been one dominated by the TNI Suharto resigned in May 21, 1998 and brought an abrupt end to Indonesia's 32-year-old New Order regime and started the process of redrawing the country's political map. The TNI as the most powerful political institution has started to decline. A number of the civilian reformist leaders campaigned for the military to return to the barracks immediately and relinquish its political responsibilities. This thesis will argue that the level of the military's socio-political participation has declined in recent years. Therefore, the TNI should define new options of its socio-political role in order to fit the harmonious relationship with the Indonesian society in the future.