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Welcome

Freedom, justice and solidarity are the basic principles underlying the work of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS). The KAS is a political foundation, closely associated with the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU). As co-founder of the CDU and the first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Konrad Adenauer (1876-1967) united Christian-social, conservative and liberal traditions. His name is synonymous with the democratic reconstruction of Germany, the firm alignment of foreign policy with the trans-Atlantic community of values, the vision of a unified Europe and an orientation towards the social market economy. His intellectual heritage continues to serve both as our aim as well as our obligation today.

In our European and international cooperation efforts we work for people to be able to live self-determined lives in freedom and dignity. We make a contribution underpinned by values to helping Germany meet its growing responsibilities throughout the world.

We encourage people to lend a hand in shaping the future along these lines. With more than 70 offices abroad and projects in over 120 countries, we make a unique contribution to the promotion of democracy, the rule of law and a social market economy. To foster peace and freedom we encourage a continuous dialog at the national and international levels as well as the exchange between cultures and religions.

Human beings in their distinctive dignity and with their rights and responsibilities are at the heart of our work. We are guided by the conviction that human beings are the starting point in the effort to bring about social justice and democratic freedom while promoting sustainable economic activity. By bringing people together who embrace their responsibilities in society, we develop active networks in the political and economic spheres as well as in society itself. The guidance we provide on the basis of our political know-how and knowledge helps to shape the globalization process along more socially equitable, ecologically sustainable and economically efficient lines.

We cooperate with governmental institutions, political parties, civil society organizations and handpicked elites, building strong partnerships along the way. In particular we seek to intensify political cooperation in the area of development cooperation at the national and international levels on the foundations of our objectives and values. Together with our partners we make a contribution to the creation of an international order that enables every country to develop in freedom and under its own responsibility.

The main objective of KAS development projects in Indonesia is to support the country’s reform and transformation process with political consulting and education, to contribute to the stabilization of democracy, the rule of law, a just economic system as well as inter-ethnic and inter-religious dialogue. Accordingly, the Foundation’s activities focus on:

• Political consulting of present elites
  
• Support for the building up of a civil society through political education of multipliers in politics and society
  
• Assistance for the political reform processes (especially democratization, parliamentarism, decentralization and the rule of law)
  
• Conflict prevention through the promotion of inter-ethnic and inter-religious dialogue
  
• Facilitation of the economic reform process including the economic recovery of the country, particularly by strengthening small and medium enterprises
  

Structural Elements of the Political Development of Indonesia

Indonesia has a considerable geo-strategic importance and a significant economic potential. Her stability and prosperity are in Germany and Europe’s interest. With a population of more than 220 million people it is the fourth most populous country and – after Suharto’s downfall – also the third-largest democracy in the world after the India and the United States of America. As more than 80% of all Indonesians are Muslims, that makes it the biggest Islamic country worldwide.

Undoubtedly, Indonesia’s democratization has made progress after Suharto’s departure. There were free elections, parliament has become more active than before, decentralization legislation was passed, and freedom of the press exists. However, Indonesia is still being considered to be in a lengthy period of high instability and prone to crisis. Conflicts are caused on ethnical, social, religious, and political grounds. They are often instrumentalized by political interest and justified on a religious basis.

Present Political Situation, Development Problems and Reform Needs

It became obvious through the Asian economic crisis that it is the political, legal and economic order which, in the long term, decides on the prosperity of nations. After 32 years of authoritarian regime the country is in an ongoing transformation. The process of democratization is still far away from consolidation. The new institutions and the responsible actors within these organizations need be further strengthened to create a democratic political culture.

Therefore, the country needs at the same time stabilization and the determined building up of a political system characterized by freedom, democracy and rule of law. Conflict prevention and internal peace, continuation of the democratization efforts especially on the local level (provinces, regions), legal reform, economic recovery within a social market economy based on competition which makes prosperity for all possible – these are core elements of the reform needs in Indonesia. For this reason the country needs a competent, democratically minded political leadership.

The development of a workable political system is an institutional, collective and individual learning process that needs time. Additionally, an ethical and moral transformation process is necessary in Indonesia in order to come to terms with the burdens of the past and to prevent possible future conflicts.

The Long-Term Objectives of KAS in Indonesia

The multidimensional crisis of Indonesia cannot be solved easily. The single most important factor to explain the present situation of the country is the political and economic system as it used to be. Indonesia is well advised to replace this old order with a more adequate one and, therefore, currently goes through a transformation and modernization process, which will be most likely, long and difficult. Its result will influence the stability of the entire region. The importance of the country and the magnitude of its problems, consequently, indicate that a continued engagement of KAS makes sense and is promising.

KAS tries to achieve its objectives through several partner projects, numerous single-project activities and high-ranking consulting. The well-proven partner projects PUKTI and SATUNAMA aim at long-term results. Single-project activities create both short-term and long-term effects. Due to their flexibility and ability to react quickly they are the driving force of the political consulting in Indonesia, even on a very high level.

Current Tasks of KAS in Indonesia

Strengthening of democracy through promotion of parliamentarism:

• Single-project activities to promote parliamentary democracy through improving the work of parliamentary services and further educating the Members of the House of Representatives as well as
  
• Single-project activities to strengthen especially provincial parliaments and support decentralization
  

Strengthening of democracy and civil society through political education and consulting:

• Partner project SATUNAMA for political education
  
• Single-project activities for political education and consulting in order to support democratization, the rule of law and especially for
  
• Inter-religious dialogue aimed at reducing tensions and preventing radicalization and terrorism
  

Strengthening of a market economy:

• Partner project PUKTI to support small and medium enterprises and their interest groups in the less developed eastern parts of the country and
  
• Single-project activities for the further development of the economic, legal and social basic conditions of a social and ecological market economy

Country Brochure Indonesia

KAS has published a 22 pages booklet in Indonesian language, compiled in close cooperation with KAS' partner organizations, that gives a comprehensive overview over KAS' programs and activities in development cooperation with Indonesia. It provides an introduction to our partner organizations and their respective programs as well as to the key aspects of KAS' own activities. Furthermore, this brochure contains information on the structure and work of KAS in Germany. The Country Brochure Indonesia can be obtained free of charge from the KAS Country Office Indonesia.