Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Strategies & Market Trends : Asia Forum -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Worswick who wrote (9278)	9/10/1999 11:31:00 AM
From: Sam	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9980

Clark, Thanks for reminding us all that "Indonesia" is a construct from the colonial era (or, in this case, as part of the aftermath of the colonial era). There is no cultural homogeneity like there is in, say, places like Vietnam or China. As you say, anyone reading the earlier posts in this thread will see that various posters--notably you yourself--have been predicting the explosion of "Indonesia" for quite awhile now. Great to read you again! I hope you are rarin' to post with more frequency in these "interesting" times. Best regards, Sam

To: Worswick who wrote (9278)	9/11/1999 6:12:00 AM
From: Dayuhan	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 9980

From a historical perspective, you are of course right, but a good number of the Indonesians that I have met (mostly. I admit, Javanese)do tend to see the matter in the simpler - if less accurate - terms in which I expressed it. The educational system pays a good deal of attention to the great Javanese empires of the past, and a good deal less to the fact that these had pretty much collapsed by the time the Europeans arrived. The intent is pretty clearly to get people to see Indonesia as the natural inheritor of the empires past; it has not been entirely effective, but it has made an impact. I am less convinced than you that Indonesia, at least, is destined for inevitable collapse. I would say that major change is inevitable, but this may not entail a complete breakup. It will most likely be something nobody expects. I think most Indonesians, while far from happy with the way in which the country has been run, appreciate the advantages of a large and regionally significant power - and even very poor Indonesians like to think of their country being on the world stage, which I assume is a residue from Sukarno's time - and are quite aware of the dangers and risks faced by a scattered cluster of weak and dependent states. Many conflicting factors are in play, and it is very difficult to predict outcomes over any term with any certainty. Could say a good deal more on the subject, may do so over the next few days....