Nusantara Ep. 7 – Suharto’s Fall

Nusantara Ep. 7 – Suharto’s Fall

July 14, 2026

About this episode

This episode analyzes the fall of Suharto and the implications for democracy and oligarchy in Indonesia.

The seventh episode in a series on the history of Indonesia: a hinge in the world system where colonialism and revolution have decisively shaped the trajectory of global history. This penultimate installment analyses the 1998 fall of Suharto and his New Order dictatorship. Basic political freedoms were established but the transition to democracy never included a transition away from oligarchy. And it happened in the absence of a mass organized left—a left that had been destroyed through the mass anti-communist killings of 1965 and 66. We also trace the arc of three conflicts on Indonesia’s colonial periphery that have decisively shaped its recent history: West Papua, East Timor, and Aceh. Featuring Rianne Subijanto, Made Supriatma, and Iqra Anugrah. Please chip in: Support The Dig at Patreon.com/TheDig Buy Song For Hard-Hit People at Haymarketbooks.org Find Money In The Mountains at Plutobooks.com

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