Return of the Men in Green: The Revival of Military Political Power Worldwide and the Role of China and Russia

When he was first elected in 2014, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, or Jokowi, presented himself as a democratic reformer—the first president not from the military or the Jakarta political elite, and someone who would deepen democratic change. Yet the opposite has occurred. In a country where the army played a central role in politics during the long Suharto dictatorship but transitioned to greater civilian control after Suharto collapsed, Jokowi has brought the notoriously brutal and corrupt military back. Despite his original claims as a democratic reformer, he has surrounded himself with military advisors and has placed the armed forces in charge of many civilian duties across the country, from teaching schools to overseeing development projects. Jokowi, who had no experience in national politics before becoming president, seems to feel bolstered by the backing of the army and is now trying to give them even more political powers—to the detriment of Indonesia’s regressing democracy.

Indonesia is hardly unique. In the past decade, militaries around the world have become involved in domestic politics and public policy at levels not seen since the Cold War. From Indonesia to Nigeria to Mexico, civilian leaders had established a fairly high degree of control over once-powerful militaries during transitions to democracy. However, armed forces in many countries have broken those bonds in recent years—sometimes with the invitation of elected leaders like Jokowi.

For more on how militaries have returned to power in so many countries, and the dangerous implications of this trend, see my new Boston Globe Ideas piece.