Civil society breakdown: Food security in the ‘new’ Indonesia

Lenard Milich argues that in Indonesia, both ethnic aspirations and civil society were held in check during former President Suharto’s 32-year dictatorial ’New Order’ regime. Once Suharto left, long-simmering ethnic tensions erupted with fury, and the moribund remnants of civil society have been unable to cope with the repercussions. This article examines two conflict areas in Indonesia (East Timor and Aceh), and also explores how urban slums have been hard-hit by the East Asian economic meltdown. It describes how civil society has only partially responded to the different crises in each, and suggests what actions may be taken to strengthen civil institutions. © 2001 The Society for International Development.