Nationalism and Revolution in Indonesia

Studies on Southeast Asia #35

by George McTurnan Kahin, Benedict Anderson (Introduction)

Professor Kahin's classic 1952 study, reprinted for a contemporary audience. An immediate, vibrant portrait of a nation in the age of revolution, featuring interviews with many of the chief players. With new illustrations and a new introduction by Benedict R. O'G. Anderson.

Genres: History, Indonesian Literature, Politics, Asia, Nonfiction

490 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1952

About the author

George McTurnan Kahin was an American historian and political scientist. He was one of the leading experts on Southeast Asia and a critic of United States involvement in the Vietnam War.

After completing his dissertation, which is still considered a classic on Indonesian history, Kahin became a faculty member at Cornell University. At Cornell, he became the director of its Southeast Asia Program and founded the Cornell Modern Indonesia Project.

Reviews

[Willy Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for a seminar I taught on nationalism in Asia, and I loved it! It is thorough, fascinating, and written by someone who was there (Kahin visited Indonesia in 1948-49 and witnessed the Dutch attack on Yogyakarta, the capital of the Indonesian Republic, firsthand). Its rather optimistic view of the Indonesian government in general, and Sukarno in particular, is maybe a little dated, but the author himself acknowledges this in his introduction to the reprint edition that I read. The book still has value for its wealth of information, the quality of its writing, and how it serves as a time-capsule of what at least one sympathetic American was thinking of the Republic of Indonesia just after it won its independence.

[Hakam N · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terima kasih atas laporan komprehensifnya

[nawir nawir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pak Kahin sungguh luar biasa. Hutang budi saya begitu banyak ke beliau.

[Mutiara Rahmi · Rating 4 out of 5]

good

[Tisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want reading this book

[Taufanharimurti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terjemahan Indonesianya diterbitkan oleh Komunitas Bambu, enak dibaca dan covernya cakep (terutama yg cetakan kedua).

[Dominggus Oktavianus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buku yang menggambarkan sejarah Indonesia periode mempertahankan kemerdekaan (1945-1950) secara cukup lengkap. Kahin mewawancarai banyak narasumber utama yang merupakan tokoh-tokoh pejuang kemerdekaan secara langsung. Satu kekurangannya adalah subyektifitas penulis tentang peran masing-masing yang lebih didasarkan pada intensitas wawancara. Misalnya, bagaimana ia menempatkan peran PSI dan Masyumi begitu pratagonis, semenetara PKI dan Murba yang antagonis. Begitu juga upaya Kahin untuk 'membela' posisi AS dalam diplomasi kemerdekaan Indonesia yang tidak konsekuen.

[Muhammad Syarafuddin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ini buku sejarah yang menyejarah, wawancaranya melintang dari Soekarno, Sjahrir, Natsir, dan tokoh-tokoh lainnya. Kahin sendiri bahkan sempat ditangkap Belanda ditengah penelitiannya. Segala sesuatu yang terjadi antara 1945 hingga 1949 diceritakan dengan sangat baik oleh Kahin.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

this text is not only remarkably thorough, but Kahin is actually a pretty good storyteller as well. definitely illuminating.....