Indonesia is in the midst of an epic transition as it moves from decades of authoritarian government to a new era of democratic opening, from years of secular government to a time of struggle over the role of Islam in public life, and from the breakdown of a 'miracle' economy to a search for resilience in the face of global forces. In this timely work, leading scholars analyze the causes of the social, political, and economic crises that erupted in Indonesia in the late 1990s, the responses of the elite and civil society, and the prospects for continuing reform. In the process, they explore...

In 1953, as part of the Eisenhower/Dulles response to Senator Joseph McCarthys charges of security risks in its staff, John Bresnan was fired from the U.S. foreign service. This turned out to be a blessing is disguise as he was quickly hired by the Ford Foundation in its New York headquarters, and in 1961 was appointed Assistant Representative to Indonesia. Four years later, Bresnan was given another assignment: close the office.

What follows is a personal recollection of the philanthropic work by the Ford Foundation during a critical period of development for the country. It details the...