The state, institutional pluralism, and development from below: The changing political parameters of state-NGO relations in Indonesia

This dissertation examines the recent reconfiguration of state-society relations in developing countries generally, and specifically examines these dynamics in contemporary Indonesia. It focuses on the emerging role of the voluntary (collective action) sector vis-a-vis the state and private sectors. The increasing importance of this alternative sector in influencing the development agenda, undertaking functions previously performed by the state and, in the process, contributing to political development has broadened the role of citizens in the political process. The prolific growth of Indonesia's non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the 1980s and 1990s has created pressures for recasting the objectives of development and the nature of democracy in Indonesia and has led to alternative institutions emerging within civil society which seek to change people's relations with the state.;This study examines the changing political context and the parameters that shape relations between the state and non-governmental organizations. It presents the concept of "political space," the main dimensions that shape political space in a polity, and an analytical framework for interpreting the political dynamics between the state and NGOs. This framework is employed to examine the evolution of state-NGO relations in Indonesia, and to analyze the strategies employed by both actors to shape the political space for autonomous action in Indonesia's authoritarian political system from 1966 to 1997.;Based on empirical analysis of NGO cases in Central Java and Jakarta, this study explains how a growing number of NGOs have created greater political space for their activities through promoting participatory development initiatives from below and by fostering institutional pluralism at multiple levels in Indonesia's emerging civil society. Special attention is given to understanding Indonesian NGOs' international linkages. A select group of international donor agencies, international NGOs, and private foundations have played a pivotal role in supporting Indonesian NGOs vis-a-vis the Suharto government through development aid, technical assistance, and policy guidance and advocacy. In the process, NGOs have become significant actors for advancing sustainable development and strengthening civil society in Indonesia.