Description
In The Coalitions Presidents Make, Marcus Mietzner explains how Indonesia has turned its volatile post-authoritarian presidential system into one of the world's most stable. He argues that since 2004, Indonesian presidents have deployed nuanced strategies of coalition building to consolidate their authority and these coalitions are responsible for the regime stability in place today. In building coalitions, Indonesian presidents have looked beyond parties and parliament--the traditional partners of presidents in most other countries. In Indonesia, actors such as the military, the police, the bureaucracy, local governments, oligarchs, and Muslim groups are integrated into presidential coalitions by giving them the same status as parties and parliament. But while this inclusiveness has made Indonesia's presidential system extraordinarily durable, it has also caused democratic decline. In order to secure the stability of their coalitions, presidents must observe the vested interests of each member when making policy decisions. The Coalitions Presidents Make details the process through which presidents balance their own powers and interests with those of their partners, encouraging patronage-oriented collaboration and disincentivizing confrontation.
Author: Marcus Mietzner
Publisher: Southeast Asia Program Publications
Published: 12/15/2023
Pages: 306
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.36lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.81d
ISBN13: 9781501772641
ISBN10: 1501772643
BISAC Categories:
- Political Science | Comparative Politics
- Political Science | Political Ideologies | Democracy
- Social Science | Ethnic Studies | Asian Studies
About the Author
Marcus Mietzner is Associate Professor in the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs at the Australian National University. His previous books include Money, Power, and Ideology and The Political Resurgence of the Military in Southeast Asia.