Activists in Transition examines the relationship between social movements and democratization in Indonesia. Collectively, progressive social movements have played a critical role over in ensuring that different groups of citizens can engage directly in—and benefit from—the political process in a way that was not possible under authoritarianism. However, their individual roles have been different, with some playing a decisive role in the destabilization of the regime and others serving as bell-weathers of the advancement, or otherwise, of Indonesia's democracy in the decades since. Equally important, democratization has affected social movements differently depending on the form taken by each movement during the New Order period. The book assesses the contribution that nine progressive social movements have made to the democratization of Indonesia since the late 1980s, and how, in turn, each of those movements has been influenced by democratization.

Activists in Transition is an excellent and empirically rich volume that fills in the existing gap in the scholarship of social movement and democratic transition, which is of interest to Indonesian studies, Asian studies, and comparative politics scholars alike.

Thushara Dibley is Lecturer in Asian Studies and Deputy Director of Sydney Southeast Asia Centre. Follow her on X @thushdibley.
Michele Ford is Professor of Southeast Asian Studies and Director of Sydney Southeast Asia Centre. Follow her on X @MicheleSSEAC.