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The Royal United Services Institute of New South Wales Incorporated
The Armed Forces of Indonesia
By: Robert Lowry (810.1/36044)
Publisher: Allen & Unwin ISBN: 9781864481440
Indonesia, the largest country in South East Asia and the world’s largest Muslim nation, is located in a region of burgeoning economic growth, political transformation and power realignments. It straddles the strategically important sea lanes between the Pacific and Indian Ocean.
Indonesia’s armed forces have played a decisive role in its politics (and economics) since Independence. This book describes each service: army, navy, air force and police. It assesses the role of the armed forces in the context of defence policy and strategy, and their social and political role. It analyses their defensive and offensive capacities and explores the political challenges confronting the armed forces.
The Armed Forces of Indonesia is a timely book. As Indonesia rapidly industrialises, those on its borders need to understand its capacity to influence its neighbours. Its armed forces have played and will play a major role in determining its place in the world.
February 2009
