Cornell University
Library
Cornell UniversityLibrary

eCommons

Help
Log In(current)
  1. Home
  2. Cornell Centers, Laboratories, Institutes, Projects and Programs
  3. Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies
  4. Southeast Asia Program (SEAP)
  5. Indonesia Journal
  6. Indonesia, Vol. 091, April 2011
  7. The Free Aceh Elections? The 2009 Legislative Contests in Aceh

The Free Aceh Elections? The 2009 Legislative Contests in Aceh

File(s)
INDO_91_0_1302899078_113_130.pdf (641.62 KB)
Permanent Link(s)
https://hdl.handle.net/1813/54535
Collections
Indonesia, Vol. 091, April 2011
Author
Barter, Shane Joshua
Abstract

The 2009 Indonesian Legislative elections were a significant test for Aceh’s peace and political autonomy, a moment of democratic transition for the troubled province. This article studies the 2009 elections in Aceh, suggesting that while the former rebels scored impressive support, the contests were not simply illustrations of Partai Aceh (PA) dominance. Firstly, PA success in local elections was confined to districts along the northeast coast. Around Banda, on the west coast, and in the Southeast, PA won bare pluralities, while in the ethnically heterogeneous districts of the interior and southwest, PA fared poorly, losing to national parties. Secondly, the PA victory has overshadowed the equivalent levels of support won by President Yudhoyono’s Partai Demokrat in Aceh’s national ballot. All told, Aceh’s Elections provide a powerful lesson in terms of regional autonomy and post-conflict elections: the former rebels and incumbent national leaders simultaneously won strong mandates, showing that the rewards of peace need not be zero-sum.

Journal / Series
Indonesia
Volume & Issue
Vol. 91
Description
Page range: 113-130
Date Issued
2011-04
Publisher
Cornell University Southeast Asia Program
Type
article

Site Statistics | Help

About eCommons | Policies | Terms of use | Contact Us

copyright © 2002-2026 Cornell University Library | Privacy | Web Accessibility Assistance