Stable but unpopular: political parties after Suharto

One of the most important reforms of the post-Suharto period has been the creation of a highly dynamic and competitive party system - particularly remarkable given an absence of democratic party politics in Indonesia for more than 40 years. Yet despite positive indicators for a healthy and functioning party system, Indonesians are highly critical of the parties and their leaders; and opinion polls rank political parties among the institutions considered most corrupt, ineffective and unresponsive. Marcus Mietzner examines whether this criticism is justified.

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