Tim Lindsey’s essay presents a bleak future for Indonesian liberal democracy, which he claims is in “retreat”, with a possible return to what has been labelled the “Neo New Order”. He argues that there is growing dissent among the dominant Muslim groups in Indonesia, and predicts a fading away of the Indonesian concept of “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika” – unity in diversity, an ideology that has held sway in this country since it was born, two years after Reformasi. He argues that, ironically, growing intolerance is facilitated by the democratic principles of freedom of speech and freedom of association.
While not denying any of the points Lindsey makes, I see his article as a simplification of the current situation in Indonesia, in three key ways.