Challenge and Change in East Asia: Indonesia’s Quest for Accountable Governance

Indonesia, the world’s largest majority-Muslim society, successfully held three major elections in 2004—legislative elections in April and two rounds of presidential voting in July and September. The two rounds were part of Indonesia’s first direct popular balloting for president and vice-president; power peacefully transferred from President Megawati Sukarnoputri of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) to former general Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) of the Democrat Party (PD). Although the smooth elections secured an important measure of legitimacy on the government, its leaders must now cope with many challenges, including lack of accountability, economic problems, corruption, separatist rebellions, and the tsunami’s aftermath.