Publication

This paper describes how Indonesia's civil government and military (TNI) defy many of the most basic precepts of conventional civil-military relations theory. The author analyzes the TNI in terms of responsibility, expertise and corporateness and finds the Indonesian military to be a potent and fiercely independent institution with a strong sense of duty. At the same time the paper points out that TNI capabilities are undermined by a lack of expertise, a factionalized corporate body, and a membership which pursues excessive self-interest. The author concludes that for democracy to thrive in Indonesia, the TNI must generally professionalize, accompanied with political reforms to strenghten civil institutions.