Philip J. Eldridge, Non-Government Organisations and Democratic Participation in Indonesia, Oxford University Press, 1995. xxii, 260pp, photos. RRP AU$54.95.
Reviewed by Ron Witton
When government is as authoritarian and all pervasive as in Indonesia, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) play an important role. They communicate to the government the views of ordinary people by mobilising them to act in their own interests. For anyone who has had contact with action for village development, human rights or the environment in Indonesia, the central role played by NGOs is clear. Less clear, however, has been the origins of many of these groups, how they interrelate, and the dimensions of conflict that periodically arise between them. Philip Eldridge has done a masterful job in providing this crucial information.
Networking
He outlines the origins and continuing concerns of central NGOs such as those in legal aid (e.g. YLBHI), the environment (e.g. WALHI), women (e.g. Yasanti), rural development (e.g. LPSM) and consumers (e.g. YLKI). In addition, he traces the rise of networking and coalition building (such as INGI) and examines the tensions within them.
Through selected case studies, such as that of the struggles over the Kedung Ombo dam, he shows how ordinary people work to counter the massive power of the Indonesian state, and the role played in this by NGOs. He also examines ideological conflicts between intellectuals such as George Aditjondro and Arief Budiman over whether NGO-Government co-operation represents a potential for democratisation of the state, or merely the co-option of people's organisations by that state.
Big NGOs
Of particular interest is his analysis of the strong pesantren (Islamic schools) movement, which addresses local development issues. A contradiction exists between the authoritarian structures of such institutions and the democratic, people-centred goals they pursue. Similarly, he examines the concerns of many within the NGO movement that the BINGOs ('Big NGOs') have managed to commandeer both the leadership of the movement within Indonesia as well as the channels of communication to, and funding from, international aid organisations.
His conclusions provide much food for thought. To what extent can NGOs grow and still remain close to their 'grassroots' partners? To what extent is the democratic struggle in the political arena central to the development process? To what extent does it represent a diversion of NGO energies and a subversion of their original aims? These questions are of continuing concern to Indonesians involved in NGOs.
Non-Indonesians are well advised to acquaint themselves with the dimensions of this debate before venturing into the field to make contact with this very active area of Indonesian social involvement. Reading this book would be a good start.
Dr Ron Witton lectures at the University of Western Sydney.
