ABSTRACT
After achieving full independence in 1949, the Indonesians experienced tremendous difficulties in creating and operating viable political systems. Indonesia was in the vanguard of countries opposing colonialism, offering moral and diplomatic support to struggles for freedom in areas of remnant colonial rule in Asia and Africa. Sukarno quickly introduced his new concept of "guided democracy," a government by mutual consensus rather than majority rule, in effect replacing normal democratic practices and processes with a personal dictatorship. As expected, Suharto reversed Sukarno's foreign policy and befriended the United States, Australia, and Japan. Several major setbacks for the New Order in the mid-1970s were the Pertamina crisis and the suppression of a liberation movement in East Timor. Yudhoyono Susilo Bambang's policy has been to bring about unity among diverse groups of Indonesians. In the political sphere, Yudhoyono was able to replace the nation's long-term tradition of dictatorship, civilian and military, with a vibrant democracy that continues to flourish during his second term.