Prabowo's victory won't bring authoritarian rule back in Indonesia

Competition among predatory elites will actually help preserve democracy

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20240219 Prabowo Subianto2

Many worry that Prabowo Subianto, apparent winner of Indonesia's presidential election, has little commitment to democracy. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)

Abdil Mughis Mudhoffir is the Asian studies subject coordinator at the Asia Institute of the University of Melbourne and the author of "State of Disorder: Privatised Violence and the State in Indonesia."

The apparent victory in Indonesia's presidential election of Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, a general who was dishonorably dismissed from the military in 1998 and blocked from entry into the U.S. and Australia over his alleged involvement in human rights abuses, is raising concerns about the future of democracy.

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