The technological state in Indonesia

"Using a historical sociology approach, this book presents an account of the formation of the technological state in Indonesia during the New Order period (1966-1998). It explores the nexus between power, high technology, development, and authoritarianism situated in the Southeast Asian context. The book discusses how the New Order authoritarian regime shifted from the developmental state to the technological state, which was characterized by desire for technological supremacy. The process resulted in the establishment of a host of technological institutions and the undertaking of large-scale high-tech programs. Shedding light on the political dimension of socio-technological transformation, this book looks at the relationship between authoritarian politics and high technology development, and questions how powerfully technology serves to sustain legitimacy of an authoritarian power. It examines multiple features of the Indonesian technology state, including the ideology of development, the politics of technocracy, the institutional structure, and the material and symbolic embodiments of high technology, and goes on to discuss the consequences of technology developed through authoritarian means"--Provided by publisher.