Indonesian President Yudhoyono’s First Thirty Days: An Evaluation + Prospects for the Future

R. William Liddle

Professor of Political Science, Ohio State University

with comments by

Bahtiar Effendy

Lecturer, University of Indonesia and Islamic State University, Jakarta

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is Indonesia's new president. He and his vice presidential running mate, Jusuf Kalla, were elected by a landslide on 20 September 2004 and inaugurated one month later. On 18 November, when Prof. Liddle speaks, the new government will have been in office for nearly a month. What can be said about its performance to date—and in the future? Prof. Liddle will cover a range of topics related to the new leadership in Jakarta, including the prospects for democratic consolidation.

R. William Liddle is a well-known Indonesia specialist. He has written about Indonesian politics since the early 1960s. His recent scholarly publications include: “Indonesia's Approaching Elections: Politics, Islam, and Public Opinion” (with Saiful Mujani), Journal of Democracy (January 2004) and “Indonesia's Democratic Transition: Playing by the Rules,” in Andrew Reynolds, ed., The Architecture of Democracy (2002). Prof. Liddle writes and speaks often for international and Indonesian media.

Bahtiar Effendy has written widely on Islam and politics in Indonesia. His latest book is Islam and the State in Indonesia (2003). He is deputy director of the Institute for the Study and Advancement of Business Ethics. He also co-hosts a popular Indonesian television talk show on public affairs.

This program is free and open to the public. Reservations are not required.

For more information, please contact Macy Chan at macychan@stanford.edu or 650-724-6405.

This is the second Southeast Forum seminar of the 2004-2005 academic year.