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The communist party of Indonesia
Book Review: The Commonist THE
COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDONESIA, ig5 iby Donald Hindley (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1963.. 304 pp.) 63,
THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDONESIA, Justus M. van der Kroef (Vancouver: University British Columbia Press, 1965. 304 pp.)
by of
While large and successful Communist parties outside the Sino-Soviet bloc, such as those of France and Italy, have generally maintained or strengthened the solid base which they established immediately after World War II, the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) has risen from a shattered remnant following the disastrous 1948 Madiun rebellion to become the largest and most dynamic of the Communist parties in the Free World. This resurrection did not begin ~mtil 1951, but it was essentially complete by 1959. Why did this phenomenal resurgence occur in a setting basically no more propitious to the advance of communism than that of other countries in the emerging post-colonial world? We now have two valuable scholarly works addressed to the study of the PKI’s rise to its present formidable position. They naturally cover a similar range of material, but each does so with differing emphasis and point of view. Whereas Professor Hindley concentrates almost entirely on the role of the PKI in national life, Professor van der Kroef goes beyond this to enlarge upon the Party’s place in the international Communist movement. Obviously, the PKI’s impressive world position is basically the result of 15 years of brilliant tactics and hard work. Hindley has covered this aspect in excellent fashion, giving us a wealth of well-documented detail on the Party’s endlessly patient endeavors in maintaining leadership solidarity, educating the membership, collecting funds, organizing mass support among various elements of Indonesian life, and mobilizing election votes. Hindley adds valuable insights gained from interviews with Party contacts during his residence in Indonesia in the early 1960’s. The author clearly evaluates the outstanding abilities which Party Chairman D. N. Aidit has demonstrated in leading the PKI out of the post-Madiun wilderness through skillful development of an “Indonesian road to socialism” carefully attuned to the realities of the new nation’s life. However, one is left with the feeling that something essential to the complete understanding of Indonesian communism’s national role is missed by Hindley’s deliberate avoidance of anything more than the most Cursory allusions to its place in the international movement. For the two aspects seem unavoidably intertwined. The role which the PKI plays in alliance with President Sukarno and his revolutionary mystique of h the unongoing struggle against “neo-colonialism’ derdeveloned world does have an imuortant bear&p on communi~m’s domestic position and future prospect in Indonesia. It is in this international area that van der Kroef is at his best. He gives us a penetrating analysis of the PKI’s skillful expoitation of those international issues which appeal to most Indonesians and by which it has insinuated itself into the fabric of the nation’s tumul111 4
JULY-AUGUST
Party of Indonesia
tuous, revolutionary life. Like his colleague he carefully and lucidly explains the PKI organization and its domestic tactics. At the same time, however, van der Kroef demonstrates clearly that one of the pillars of the PKI’s formidable strength has always been its identification with the foreign policy goals of Indonesian revolutionary nationalism. This was the case with the earlier problem of relations with the Dutch and other Western nations and in the long-festering West New Guinea issue. It is now doubly so in the confrontation with Malaysia, since the PKI formulated and articulated this policy before the Indonesian government did so, and thus can justifiably lay claim to the role of mentor for this adventure. It is evident that such coaching is made easier in the turbulent atmosphere created by Sukarno’s own “mystagoguery,” as the author so aptly terms it. But, as van der Kroef adds, “the central fact of Indonesian political life by the beginning of 1964 was that the nation [was] . . . made to follow the major foreign policy objective of the PKI.” Perhaps it is because of this difference in approach that the authors disagree in their estimates of how close the PKI is to taking power in Indonesia. Neither considers an outright coup d’ktat likely; at the same time, both understand the potential for eventual complete Communist domination. However, van der Kroef sees the danger of this Communist march to power as a much more urgent matter than does Hindley. The latter points out some valid domestic limitations on the PKI’s progress, such as the ignorance and inefficiency of many of the Party cadres, as well as the general passivity of the Indonesian masses, particularly the peasantry. Hindley views the delicate tripartite balancing act of the PKI, Sukarno and the army as a situation in which the Party is effectively hamstrung, despite Sukarno’s benevolent attitude. He regards as effective the non-Communist ruling elite’s careful maneuvers calculated to deny real power to the PKI. In fact, Hindley implies that the authoritarian straightjacket of Sukarno’s “guided democracy,” administered by anti-Communist army officers, has tended to “domesticate” the PKI. On the contrary, van der Kroef feels that the PKI has increasingly forced state policy to conform to its line. According to his estimate, the Party has steadily “radicalized” official Indonesian ideology and policy by nominally staying within the restrictions of “guided democracy” while weakening them by pressing incessantly for liberalization. Furthermore, through its foreign policy initiatives, such as the Malaysia issue, the PKI has greatly enlarged its operational elbow room. Van der Kroef summarizes with two less tangible but nevertheless real factors which are helping propel the PKI towards power. One is the elan arising from the general advance of communism in Asia. The other is the manner in which this spirit and its view of a glorious future have struck an exceptionally responsive chord in both traditional and revolutionary Indonesian society. Events since these two books went to press tend to support this estimate. (See “Indonesian Communism’s Drive to Power,” by Justus van der Kroef, Communist Aj&+rs, III/e, March-April.) -H.M.R
23
COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDONESIA, ig5 iby Donald Hindley (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1963.. 304 pp.) 63,
THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDONESIA, Justus M. van der Kroef (Vancouver: University British Columbia Press, 1965. 304 pp.)
by of
While large and successful Communist parties outside the Sino-Soviet bloc, such as those of France and Italy, have generally maintained or strengthened the solid base which they established immediately after World War II, the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) has risen from a shattered remnant following the disastrous 1948 Madiun rebellion to become the largest and most dynamic of the Communist parties in the Free World. This resurrection did not begin ~mtil 1951, but it was essentially complete by 1959. Why did this phenomenal resurgence occur in a setting basically no more propitious to the advance of communism than that of other countries in the emerging post-colonial world? We now have two valuable scholarly works addressed to the study of the PKI’s rise to its present formidable position. They naturally cover a similar range of material, but each does so with differing emphasis and point of view. Whereas Professor Hindley concentrates almost entirely on the role of the PKI in national life, Professor van der Kroef goes beyond this to enlarge upon the Party’s place in the international Communist movement. Obviously, the PKI’s impressive world position is basically the result of 15 years of brilliant tactics and hard work. Hindley has covered this aspect in excellent fashion, giving us a wealth of well-documented detail on the Party’s endlessly patient endeavors in maintaining leadership solidarity, educating the membership, collecting funds, organizing mass support among various elements of Indonesian life, and mobilizing election votes. Hindley adds valuable insights gained from interviews with Party contacts during his residence in Indonesia in the early 1960’s. The author clearly evaluates the outstanding abilities which Party Chairman D. N. Aidit has demonstrated in leading the PKI out of the post-Madiun wilderness through skillful development of an “Indonesian road to socialism” carefully attuned to the realities of the new nation’s life. However, one is left with the feeling that something essential to the complete understanding of Indonesian communism’s national role is missed by Hindley’s deliberate avoidance of anything more than the most Cursory allusions to its place in the international movement. For the two aspects seem unavoidably intertwined. The role which the PKI plays in alliance with President Sukarno and his revolutionary mystique of h the unongoing struggle against “neo-colonialism’ derdeveloned world does have an imuortant bear&p on communi~m’s domestic position and future prospect in Indonesia. It is in this international area that van der Kroef is at his best. He gives us a penetrating analysis of the PKI’s skillful expoitation of those international issues which appeal to most Indonesians and by which it has insinuated itself into the fabric of the nation’s tumul111 4
JULY-AUGUST
Party of Indonesia
tuous, revolutionary life. Like his colleague he carefully and lucidly explains the PKI organization and its domestic tactics. At the same time, however, van der Kroef demonstrates clearly that one of the pillars of the PKI’s formidable strength has always been its identification with the foreign policy goals of Indonesian revolutionary nationalism. This was the case with the earlier problem of relations with the Dutch and other Western nations and in the long-festering West New Guinea issue. It is now doubly so in the confrontation with Malaysia, since the PKI formulated and articulated this policy before the Indonesian government did so, and thus can justifiably lay claim to the role of mentor for this adventure. It is evident that such coaching is made easier in the turbulent atmosphere created by Sukarno’s own “mystagoguery,” as the author so aptly terms it. But, as van der Kroef adds, “the central fact of Indonesian political life by the beginning of 1964 was that the nation [was] . . . made to follow the major foreign policy objective of the PKI.” Perhaps it is because of this difference in approach that the authors disagree in their estimates of how close the PKI is to taking power in Indonesia. Neither considers an outright coup d’ktat likely; at the same time, both understand the potential for eventual complete Communist domination. However, van der Kroef sees the danger of this Communist march to power as a much more urgent matter than does Hindley. The latter points out some valid domestic limitations on the PKI’s progress, such as the ignorance and inefficiency of many of the Party cadres, as well as the general passivity of the Indonesian masses, particularly the peasantry. Hindley views the delicate tripartite balancing act of the PKI, Sukarno and the army as a situation in which the Party is effectively hamstrung, despite Sukarno’s benevolent attitude. He regards as effective the non-Communist ruling elite’s careful maneuvers calculated to deny real power to the PKI. In fact, Hindley implies that the authoritarian straightjacket of Sukarno’s “guided democracy,” administered by anti-Communist army officers, has tended to “domesticate” the PKI. On the contrary, van der Kroef feels that the PKI has increasingly forced state policy to conform to its line. According to his estimate, the Party has steadily “radicalized” official Indonesian ideology and policy by nominally staying within the restrictions of “guided democracy” while weakening them by pressing incessantly for liberalization. Furthermore, through its foreign policy initiatives, such as the Malaysia issue, the PKI has greatly enlarged its operational elbow room. Van der Kroef summarizes with two less tangible but nevertheless real factors which are helping propel the PKI towards power. One is the elan arising from the general advance of communism in Asia. The other is the manner in which this spirit and its view of a glorious future have struck an exceptionally responsive chord in both traditional and revolutionary Indonesian society. Events since these two books went to press tend to support this estimate. (See “Indonesian Communism’s Drive to Power,” by Justus van der Kroef, Communist Aj&+rs, III/e, March-April.) -H.M.R
23