| This dissertation attempts to examine grass-roots politics in New Order's Indonesia, its contributions to the empowerment of civil society, and its role in democratic movements in the future. In so doing, this study focuses on the following issues which have been central to Indonesia's politics for more than two decades. First is the development of the state which has played a dominant role in determining social, economic, and particularly political affairs in the country.;Second is the development of grass-roots politics, especially the working class elements. Emphasis will be given to the reemergence of worker activism in the last five years. It covers the struggles for independent labor unions and improvement of living condition. Moreover, the everyday discourse and practices among workers in their community and workplace will also be discussed.;Third is an examination of the return of grass-roots politics in the official political discourse and practices and its impact on the democratization process. The emergence of independent labor unions and various worker protests and strikes throughout vital industrial areas in the country will be discussed. Also the most recent attempt of the PDI (Indonesian Democratic Party) to appropriate grass-roots politics in its struggle for political autonomy will be examined.;The study also maintains that Indonesian grass-roots politics should be taken into account in order to understand the future process of democratization. Attempts should be made to further investigate the movement's internal dynamics, its strength and weaknesses, and its potentiality in contributing the process of empowerment of civil society. The study argues that the current paradigm of civil society offers the most adequate conceptual framework for such an endeavor. |
