ABSTRACT
This book describes and analyses NGOs operating under different social and political circumstances in a country undertaking a rapid political transformation from authoritarianism to democracy. It argues that NGOs have to struggle to serve as both promoters of grassroots-oriented development and advocates for people’s coalitions and movements. In a situation where authoritarian government imposed pervasive control on the political activities of society such as the New Order Indonesia, NGOs had cautiously confined their activities to community development. However, when opportunity to become involved in grassroots mobilisation activities arose, NGOs had helped society to form grassroots resistance to challenge the state’s domination. When the political setting had been dramatically transformed from authoritarianism to democracy, NGOs played their role in strengthening of civil society by forming grassroots coalitions and networks.
