Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of the book. The book addresses the deficiency in International Political Economy (IPE) through a consideration of Indonesia's foreign economic relations. It expresses that Islamic social forces have been deeply engaged with the contest of ideas attempting to influence Indonesia's foreign economic relations. The book focuses on the two most common narratives of the role that religion plays in international politics according to International Relations (IR). It explores the role of Islam in the political economy of Indonesia from the late colonial period (early twentieth century) through to independence. The book considers the parliamentary democracy that was built in Indonesia during the 1950s. It explores the disastrous collapse of the parliamentary democracy in Indonesia, and the expulsion of Masjumi from Indonesian public life.