Beyond Ideology:China-Indonesia Engagement and the Making of the Guided Democracy, 1955-1959

Abstract

Chinas engagement with Indonesia from 1955 to 1959 was neither ideologically oriented nor realpolitik, but somewhere in between. It happened not only because of the changing domestic political situations or completely subject to the shifting international environment, but was also closely associated with intrinsic social and historical issues that transcended geographical, ideological and ethnic boundaries within and across the two nation-states. To some extent, this e?ective engagement was not a result of Indonesias leaning towards the left, but a reason for itnot in the sense of direct political intervention, but through the pursuit of common identity and interest, which signifcantly shaped the making of Indonesias Guided Democracy.

Art diplomacy: Drawing China-Indonesia relations in the early Cold War, 1949–1956

“…64 Sukarno's visit to industrial and cultural sites in China anticipated his establishment of 'Guided Democracy'. 65 Specifically, Sukarno's visit to Sun Yat-sen's mausoleum in Nanjing refreshed his memory of leading the wars for independence and conceiving his political philosophy of 'Pancasila' (Five Principles). Sukarno called Sun's third wife Song Qingling (also known as Madame Sun Yat-sen) 'sister' and expressed his gratitude for her gifts, which included a bronze statue of Sun, a photograph of Sun and Song's wedding, and two doves of peace.…”