Suharto: A Political Biography

By R.E. Elson

Book Overview

Fascinating insights into a man who rose to exert extraordinary power over a complex and volatile nation.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0521616573
• ISBN13: 9780521616577
• Release Date: June 2008
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Length: 412 Pages
• Weight: 1.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.9" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

The Embarrassing Dictator

Indonesians are rather embarrassed about their past these days, except for the glorious Revolution in the 1940s when they expelled the Dutch colonialists. They seem to want to forget about the man who ruled them for thirty years, though some ordinary Indonesians yearn for the stability and predictability of that time. Elson's biography is meticulously researched, readable and comprehensive, and provides an irreplaceable introduction to a crucial period, which still influences Indonesia, despite the extraordinary democratisation which has taken place. Despite appearances, many political patterns, especially those of elite politics, economic exploitation and corruption, are little changed from Suharto's time.