Patrimonialism and Indonesian politics

Abstract

Instability has been a striking characteristic of Third World politics. Since gaining independence most Third World states have experienced sudden and drastic changes in government brought about by mass demonstrations, riots, rebellions and coups. Relatively soft "democratic" governments proved particularly vulnerable but many of the more authoritarian regimes that replaced them were equally unable to maintain their hold on power. Political instability has been attributed to economic backwardness, the strains associated with rapid economic and social change, communal competition and ideological conflict, all of which are more significant in the modernising states of the Third World than in the already modern states of Europe and North America. Nevertheless, not all Third World states are politically unstable. Some, such as Saudi Arabia or Nepal, have managed to isolate themselves to a large extent from the modernising process affecting most of the Third World and have preserved traditional political institutions which continue to be regarded as legitimate by the mass of the populace Others, more exposed to western penetration, underwent periods of considerable social upheaval and political instability but have since produced governments which were able to restore order and seem capable of maintaining stability in the future.