Considering the size and importance of Indonesia, remarkably little has been published in the West about the society and government of that country. With over 160 million people, it is the fifth most populous country in the world. It is an archipelago of some 13,000 islands, stretching over 5,000 kilometers from from east to west, and contains within it an amazing array of cultures, as well as ethnic, economic, and religious variations.
Not surprisingly in view of the country's great size, vast regional differences, and cultural diversity, local government in Indonesia is on a massive...

In this book an international team of researchers examines the hitherto little-studied relationship between urban governance and growing poverty. The core of the book is the result of three years of research in ten cities in Africa, Asia and Latin America including interviews with key actors both within and outside city governments, discussions with poverty groups, community organizations and NGOs, as well as analyses of data on poverty, services and finance. Ultimately the evidence demonstrates that in many countries the global trend towards decentralization and democratization offers...