Indonesian Political History (1945-1966) - Flashcards

A comprehensive set of Q&A flashcards covering the major events, reforms, and ideologies from Indonesia’s War of Independence through the early New Order period.

What event triggered the Indonesian War of Independence (1945-1949)?

The Proclamation of Independence in 1945.

Which organization did the Dutch form to govern Indonesia after World War II?

NICA (Netherlands Indies Civil Administration).

What were the Dutch military actions aimed at subduing Indonesia called?

Agresi Militer I and Agresi Militer II (two police actions).

What was RIS in Indonesian history, and why was it formed?

RIS stood for the United States of Indonesia, a federal arrangement intended to sow discord among Indonesian elites and delay full unity; it was dissolved on August 17, 1950.

What temporary constitution did Indonesia adopt after RIS, and what was it based on?

Undang-Undang Dasar Sementara (UUDS), based on the 1945 Constitution and No. 39 regulation.

What is the No.39 regulation and how did it influence Parliament?

A regulation that determines parliamentary composition by party presence when elections are absent; PNI had the most presence, followed by Masyumi and PSI.

Which parties formed the Natsir Cabinet (1950-1951) and who was excluded?

Masyumi and PSI formed the cabinet; the PNI was left out due to seat negotiations.

Why did the Natsir Cabinet fall in 1951?

PNI opposition was deemed dangerous, West Papua remained unresolved, economic problems persisted, No.39 favored Masyumi, leading to a vote of no confidence.

What was notable about the Sukiman Cabinet (1951-1952)?

A compromise between PNI and Masyumi with Sukiman as PM; focused on rubber-based economic programs due to the Korean War; fell due to foreign policy issues and left-right tensions.

What changes did the Wilopo Cabinet (1952-1953) implement regarding the military?

Shift toward civilian supremacy (Hankamarta reforms), limits on promotions above captain, and purges of anti-government officers.

What significant event occurred on October 17, 1952 involving Nasution?

Nasution supporters demonstrated at the Merdeka Palace, demanding parliamentary dissolution; military intimidation occurred, and Soekarno refused to grant executive power.

What incident at Tanjung Morawa contributed to the Wilopo government's downfall?

Squatters and Barisan Tani Indonesia clashed with police over land, leading to deaths and a no-confidence vote; Wilopo resigned in June 1953.

What were the main goals of the First Ali Cabinet (1953-1955) and its downfall?

Diversifying export income away from rubber; Bandung Conference (1955) boosted non-aligned diplomacy; cabinet fell due to economic crisis, failed army reforms, and loss of party support.

What were the 1955 general election results in order of first to fourth place?

PNI first, Masyumi second, NU third, PKI fourth; PSI declined; about 12 million votes in total.

What were the major regional revolts after 1955?

PRRI/Permesta (Sumatra and Sulawesi) and DI/TII (Islamist rebellions in Aceh, West Java, Makassar).

What caused the Soekarno–Hatta split, and when did it become visible?

Differences over federalism vs centralization; Hatta resigned in 1956, and by 1959 the absence of a vice president signaled greater centralization.

What is Guided Democracy (1959-1966)?

Soekarno's centralized rule period, culminating in Nasakom (Nationalism, Religion, Communism) and moves toward a single-party state.

What does Nasakom stand for and what reform occurred on July 5, 1959?

Nasakom stands for Nationalism, Religion, and Communism; on July 5, 1959, Indonesia returned to the 1945 Constitution, abolished the DPR, and created the DPR-GR (Gotong Royong) with a guided democracy framework.

What were Trikora and Dwikora, and what were their outcomes?

Trikora (1961) Tri Komando Rakyat: operation to take Papua, successful; Dwikora (1964) Dua Komando Rakyat: Indonesia vs Malaysia (Kalimantan), failed.

What were the Oldefo, Nefo, Conefo, and Gomefo blocs?

Oldefo: Old Established Forces (Netherlands, Britain, USA); Nefo: New Emerging Forces; Conefo: Conference; Gomefo: Games of Nefo.

What was Berdikari and its economic aim?

Berdikari means self-sufficiency—berdiri di atas kaki sendiri; aimed for self-reliance with limited imports/exports.

What was G-30S PKI and its aftermath?

A 1965 coup attempt attributed to PKI; seven army generals were kidnapped/killed; the coup failed and precipitated a brutal anti-PKI purge with hundreds of thousands killed.

Who were prominent anti-PKI figures during the purge?

Soeharto, Sarwo Edhie, and Umar Wirahadikusumah.

What were Lekra and Manikebu, and what happened to Manikebu?

Lekra was the PKI-cultural wing; Manikebu was an intellectual group opposing Lekra; Manikebu released Manifesto Kebudayaan (1963) and was banned by Soekarno.

What role did Harian Rakjat and Barisan Tani Indonesia play?

Harian Rakjat was PKI’s main newspaper; Barisan Tani Indonesia was a farmers’ organization pushing land reform and supporting PKI.

What is Supersemar and its significance?

The Supersemar order gave Soeharto authority to restore order, enabling him to begin dismantling Soekarno’s supporters and paving the way for his presidency.

What was the Party Simplification under Soeharto?

Dissolution and fusion of political parties into PPP, PDI, and Golkar to stabilize politics and maintain control.

What was Pelita and its focus across its phases?

Pelita were five-year development plans; 1st-2nd focused on basic needs outside Java; 3rd-4th on rebuilding industry; 5th-6th on telecommunications, transportation, education, and attracting foreign investment.

What was the economic policy shift under the New Order regarding foreign investment and ethnic Chinese businesses?

Confiscation of some ethnic Chinese properties to consolidate control, while some were allowed to remain due to nepotism; opened more foreign investment in manufacturing, garments, and automotive sectors.