The Politics of Economic Liberalization in Indonesia: State, Market and Power

by Andrew Rosser

Overview

This book examines the dynamics shaping the economic process of economic liberalisation in Indonesia since the mid-1980's. Much writing on the process of economic liberalisation in developing countries views economic liberalisation as the victory of economic rationality over political and social interests. In contrast, this book argues that economic liberalisation should not be understood in these terms, but rather in the way that political social interests shape processes of economic reform in both a positive and negative sense. Specifically, Rosser argues that economic liberalisation needs to be understood in terms of the extent to which economic crises shift the balance of power and influence within society away from coalitions opposed to reform and towards those in favour of reform. In the Indonesian context, the main coalitions that need to be examined in this respect are the politico-bureaucrats and the conglomerates who have generally opposed reform and mobile capitalists who have generally supported reform.

Based on extensive original research, and providing much new material, the book considers the politics of economic policy-making in Indonesia in a range of sectors including the capital market, intellectual property law, the banking industry, and the trade and investment sectors. Analysing why the nature of economic policy in Indonesia has varied over time, this study argues that there is nothing inevitable about a transition to a fully-fledged liberal market order in Indonesia, and outlines possible future scenarios for the country's political economy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780700714766
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	12/21/2001
Pages:	248
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Part 1 Theoretical and Historical Introduction; Chapter 1 Introduction; Chapter 2 Understanding the New Order; Chapter 3 The Politics of Economic Policy-making in Indonesia since 1965: A general overview; Part 2 The Politics of Economic Liberalisation in Indonesia from the mid-1980s to mid-1997; Chapter 4 Banking Reform; Chapter 5 Capital Market Reform; Chapter 6 Trade and Investment Policy Reform; Chapter 7 Intellectual Property Law Reform; Part 3 The Asian Crisis and the Politics of Economic Liberalisation in Indonesia; Chapter 8 The Politics of Economic Liberalisation in Indonesia from mid-1997 to October 1999; Chapter 9 Conclusion;

Editorial Reviews

'A welcome addition to the political economy literature on Indonesia.' - Pacific Affairs

'Andrew Rosser has produced a readable yet detailed account of a fascinating period of Indonesian political and economic history...the book contains a wealth of information and analysis, and students of Indonesian politics and economics will want to keep it readily at hand.' - Southeast Asian Studies

'A welcome addition to the political economy literature on Indonesia.' - Pacific Affairs

From the Publisher