Long-term economic development in the presence of an episode of mass killing : the case of Indonesia, 1965-1966

Indonesia is sadly among the list of nations that have experienced episodes of mass killings. Following its independence from Dutch rule in 1949, Indonesia was ruled until1998 by two strongmen: first by the charismatic leader Sukarno (until1966), then by Suharto (1966-1998).1 1he mass killing around which this chapter is structured-the politicide of 1965-1966-was carried out during the transition of power from Sukarno to Suharto, which took place via a coup d'etat. Sukarno had been a staunch nationalist and a leader in the global movement of nonaligned nations, and so he was of necessity suspect to the West. The coup and subsequent pogrom eliminated a left-wing challenge to his rule and helped to consolidate Suharto's grip on power.