Introduction

Abstract

A succession is a difficult process everywhere, more so in the Third World. In the last few years, this has been the single most important and difficult issue confronting Indonesia. Where the role of personalities, rather than institutions, is important, as in most Asian societies, only one person can drive the state car even though there are many who would like to do so. If the car has been seldom used, then, there will be great uncertainties about its driving capability notwithstanding how good it looks. If many people had died the last time someone got into the car, the tension, uncertainty and anxiety will be all the more great. Thus, the person who has been driving the state car since late 1965, namely President Suharto, has been greatly burdened in ensuring that the next driver is adequate so that he can effectively drive the car without any major mishap. Yet, there are limitations and difficulties in allowing the incumbent to dictate political transition and the pace of change, especially since the people are unhappy with the regime, as was the case in Indonesia, had merely complicated the politics of succession in Indonesia in the period under study.