This book is an introduction to Indonesia, a land whose recent political, economic and social upheavals have created a seemingly endless succession of crises for her people and serious problems for the whole world community. The history, physical setting and contemporary affairs of Southeast Asia's largest country are here presented in graphic relationship to the characteristics and essential values of its ninety million People.
The author, who lived in Indonesia for some time, describes with enthusiasm the charm of the country's people, its unique blend of religions, its exotic landscapes, its village festivals, its music and other arts. Miss Mintz evokes the triumphs and disillusionments of the years of Indonesian revolution against colonial rule and the determined mood of the young republic in its efforts to organize a new state.
Indonesia today is still a land of contrasts, and often of conflicts, between old and new. This perceptive volume shows how the modern and the traditional compound the problems that Indonesia's leaders must solve before the revolution can achieve its goals. Illuminating insights are given into the events and circumstances that have shaped the present-day Indonesian scene, and factors involved in possible future developments are keenly and succinctly analyzed.
The book will be of special interest to the tourist or businessman going to Indonesia for the first time. High school seniors and college students who need introductory material the general reader and indeed anyone, interested in world affairs will find this an engrossing, highly informative work on one of the most important new countries in the world.