Introduction

Few nations as culturally rich or politically pivotal as Indonesia are so consistently mischaracterized in global media and conversation. Much of this misrecognition has to do with the fact that Indonesia does not conform to received stereotypes of an “Asian” or “Muslim” country. This chapter introduces this Southeast Asian nation by way of an overview of its ethno-religious history and an examination of the role of religious and political processes in the shaping of state, society, religion, and gender in contemporary Indonesia. The chapter explores the violence of the early transitional era (post-1998) but also highlights the richness and resilience of Indonesian popular culture and the achievements of its new democratic system. The chapter concludes by noting that Indonesia today faces serious challenges with regard to inter-religious harmony but remains one of the most hopeful democracies in the Muslim-majority world.