Some Notes About Islam and Politics in Indonesia

Abstract

Now about nine years ago 1 Indonesia started its wholly independent political life. A federal democratic state-which soon became a unitary one-was founded on the concept of a new nationhood. The movement initiated by Soekarno's and Hatta's proclamation of independence on August 17, 1945, had met with complete success in the end. Here the nationalistic movement inspired by the western educated elite got its great opportunity immediately after the Japanese capitulation. It is often argued by many writers: Japanese policy in the last phase before surrender, Japanese arms given abundantly to the republican troops, the anticolonial climate created by Washington as well as by Moscou and by the London Labour Government were favourable factors as to the rise of the new Republic. Be that as it is, the momentous factor was of course the nationalistic movement itself and the