Culturally and politically, Indonesia is one of the more complex countries in the world, with 336 ethnic groups speaking 583 languages and dialects. It is only recently that these people have been contained within one political framework. Throughout most of history, Indonesia's inhabitants were divided politically in many different ways as a bewildering array of kingdoms and empires rose and fell within the region. Since independence in 1945, one of the challenges Indonesia faces is constructing a unified national identity. Through six chapters, Drakeley discusses Indonesian history beginning with settlement and social development in 5,000 BCE, through the Colonial Era, the Independence Movement, the Sukarno Era, and the Soeharto Era, to the 2004 elections. Ideal for students and general readers, the History of Indonesia is part of Greenwood's Histories of Modern Nations series. With over thirty nation's histories in print, these books provide readers with a concise, up-to-date history of countries throughout the world. Reference features include a biographical section highlighting famous figures in Indonesian history, a timeline of important historical events, a glossary of terms, and a bibliographical essay with suggestions for further reading.

This fourth edition of M. C. Ricklefs' classic work on the history of Indonesia reflects the fruits of the latest research and brings the story up to the present day. In a single volume, readers gain an insight into the complexities of the world's largest archipelago - a land of vibrant cultures and dynamic history, but also one of violence, oppressive governments and immense challenges.

Since the Bali bombings of 2002 and the rise of political Islam, Indonesia has frequently occupied media headlines. Nevertheless, the history of the fourth largest country on earth remains relatively unknown. Adrian Vickers' book, first published in 2005, traces the history of an island country, comprising some 240 million people, from the colonial period through revolution and independence to the present. Framed around the life story of Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Indonesia's most famous and controversial novelist and playwright, the book journeys through the social and cultural mores of Indonesian society, focusing on the experiences of ordinary people. In this new edition, the author brings the story up to date, revisiting his argument as to why Indonesia has yet to realise its potential as a democratic country. He also examines the rise of fundamentalist Islam, which has haunted Indonesia since the fall of Suharto.

In the first study of the kind, Susan Blackburn examines how Indonesian women have engaged with the state since they began to organise a century ago. Voices from the women's movement resound in these pages, posing demands such as education for girls and reform of marriage laws. The state, for its part, is shown attempting to control women. The book investigates the outcomes of these mutual claims and the power of the state and the women's movement in improving women's lives. It also questions the effects on women of recent changes to the state, such as Indonesia's transition to democracy and the election of its first female president. The wider context is important. On some issues, like reproductive health, international institutions have been influential and as the largest Islamic society in the world, Indonesia offers special insights into the role of religion in shaping relations between women and the state.

FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES, Soeharto reigned as the most powerful man in Indonesia - President, father figure and infallible leader to millions. That span of the country's history has remained largely opaque to the public, with confusion and vagaries obscuring the inner workings of his regime. In Shades of Grey: A Political Memoir of Modern Indonesia 1965-1998, longtime political insider Jusuf Wanandi, who worked closely with the President's top advisors for decades, sheds light on the indecipherable dark of this period. From the day of the 1965 coup to the invasion of East Timor to Soeharto's complex relationships with China, the communist party and Islamic activists, Wanandi draws on behind-the-scenes knowledge and lifelong experience to illuminate some of the most dramatic and less understood elements of Indonesian history. Both history scholars and political novices will learn much from this book, gaining greater comprehension of how Indonesia came to be what it is today, as well as coming to understand one of modern history's largest political personalities. As the title suggests, nothing in this deeply layered story is black-and-white, no truths absolute in the violent and passionate tale of Indonesia's journey toward full democracy, but Wanandi offers perhaps the most comprehensive and nuanced explanation to date. Though no history can tell all sides of a story, Shades of Grey - colored by Wanandi's thoughtful voice, as well as humanizing anecdotes about great figures - paints a rich picture of a fascinating time, a picture that is sure to provoke debate and introspection for years to come. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jusuf Wanandi (1937), a native of Sawahlunto, West Sumatra, is a lawyer by training and an activist by calling. He co-founded the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in 1971 and amongst his many other responsibilities and appointments he currently serves as President Director of The Jakarta Post and Chairman of Prasetiya Mulya Business School. He lives in Jakarta with his wife and family. This is his third book.