The extent of civil control over the military is an important criterion for the level of democratization of a country. The army in Indonesia possesses high political and economic influence, due to its regime sustaining function. In the 15 years since the democratization, the government and civil society have nevertheless managed to reform the civil-military relations. This is one of the reasons why Indonesia today is seen as the most democratic state in Southeast Asia.
In HSFK-Report 3/2013 "Patronage, Personalismus, Professionalisierung? Die vorsichtige Demokratisierung zivil-militärischer Beziehungen in Indonesien", Philip Lorenz presents the causes for this development and examines, how successfully civil control has actually been institutionalized. He evaluates the results from a theoretical and empirical perspective and gives recommendations on how Germany and the USA can support a further democratic consolidation of Indonesia.
Philip Lorenz is a researcher at the Institute of Political Science of Heidelberg University and cooperation partner of PRIF's project "Cultural Effects of Global Norm Transmission for SSR". In his research he focuses on democratization processes in Southeast Asia, the military’s role in young democracies and the contribution of civil society groups to the institutionalization of democracy.
The HSFK-Report is available at PRIF for 6€ or can be downloaded for free.