The Struggle for the National Narrative in Indonesia

This book offers a unique analysis of how political representatives construct ideas about the nation in contemporary Indonesian politics. In their struggle to define what the authors call the 'national narrative', would-be national leaders seek to develop a story about the nation's past, present and future. These stories feature a unique plot, set of characters, and a moral that the political narrator hopes will resonate. In contemporary Indonesia, the authors assess two prominent national narratives: the technocratic and populist national narratives. The book concludes with an analysis that considers other potential sources of ideas about the nation, as well as the potential implications for domestic politics and Indonesian grand strategy.

Analyses how political representatives construct ideas about the nation in contemporary Indonesian politics Elaborates on how political contests become an arena for competition between different conceptions of the nation Contributes an ideational perspective on Indonesian politics through an analysis of competing national narratives

Autorentext

Dr Michael Hatherell is a Senior Lecturer in Strategic Studies at Deakin University, Australia. He works as the Academic Director for Deakin in its relationship with the Australian Defence College. Michael's research interests mainly focus on the role of narrative and ideas in shaping political competition, foreign policy and grand strategy.
Dr Alistair Welsh is a Senior Lecturer and Convenor of Indonesian at Deakin University, Australia. His interdisciplinary research interests relate to cultural contexts in Indonesian/Malay spheres, with a focus on discourse that shapes and/or reflects identity positions.

Inhalt

1. Narratives and the Nation.- 2. The Technocratic National Narrative.- 3. The Populist National Narrative.- 4. Alternative National Narratives.- 5. The National Narrative, Indonesian Domestic Politics and Grand Strategy.