The Technological State in Indonesia - Contemporary Southeast Asia

In this review of The Technological State in Indonesia, the author Sulfikar Amir offers a focused historical sociology account of how the New Order (1966-1998) transformed state practice toward technological ambition. The bottom line: this book is for readers who want a rigorous, politically attentive explanation of how authoritarian governance and high-technology programs became entwined in Indonesia; its single biggest reason to read is the clear tracing of institutional change that links political power to large-scale technological projects. The account is analytical rather than polemical and situates developments within Southeast Asian comparative concerns.

Key Features

• Historical sociology approach: The book uses long-range social and institutional analysis to explain how the technological state emerged during the New Order era.
• Focus on the New Order: It details the 1966-1998 period to show the shift from a developmental to a technology-centered state strategy.
• Institutional analysis: The narrative explains the creation of technological institutions and how they supported high-tech programs.
• Political context: The work examines the nexus of authoritarian politics and technological ambition to reveal political drivers of socio-technological change.
• Regional framing: The book situates Indonesia within broader Southeast Asian debates on development and state capacity.

Who It's For

This book is best suited for scholars, graduate students, and policy researchers interested in political sociology, development studies, and Southeast Asian politics who need a focused case study of state-led technology initiatives under authoritarian rule. It will also appeal to readers studying the institutional foundations of science and technology policy in middle-income countries.

Readers looking for a technical manual on specific technologies, engineering histories, or a general popular history should look elsewhere, because the emphasis here is analytical and institutional rather than technical or narrative-driven.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Provides a clear, scholarly explanation of how the New Order prioritized technological projects and built institutions to support them.
• Strong use of historical sociology to connect political power with technological ambition, helpful for comparative research.
• Situates Indonesian developments within Southeast Asian political and development debates, widening its relevance.

Cons

• Not a technical or engineering history, so readers wanting detailed technological descriptions may find the focus too political.

Specifications

Title	The Technological State in Indonesia
Series	Routledge Contemporary Southeast Asia Series
Author	Sulfikar Amir
Historical focus	New Order period (1966-1998)
Approach	Historical sociology of state and technology
Regional scope	Indonesia and Southeast Asia

Our Verdict

The Technological State in Indonesia is a valuable, well-argued study for anyone examining the political foundations of science and technology policy in authoritarian contexts; its institutional focus makes it good value for researchers and advanced students seeking explanation rather than technical detail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book cover technical details of the technologies used?
Answer. No, the emphasis is on institutional and political analysis rather than technical specifications of particular technologies.

What time period does the book examine?
Answer. The main focus is the New Order period, 1966-1998, and how state institutions evolved during that era.

Who is the intended audience?
Answer. Scholars, graduate students, and policy researchers in political sociology, development studies, and Southeast Asian politics.