By: Theofransus Litaay

This book has been translated into Indonesian also titled "The Future of Freedom". Which is the international bestselling book, the assessing how democracy has changed the political, economic and our social relations. Zakaria challenges us to put human freedom in higher than the altar of democracy both in America and in other countries. Moreover Zakaria also discuss the prospects for democracy in Iraq and how wrong the Bush administration used the approach to this problem.

The appeal of this book for us in Indonesia is that there is Fareed Zakaria's comments on the development of democracy in Indonesia. According to Zakaria, Indonesia is more tolerant of differences at the time led by Suharto rather than at the time was located in the democracy now. This course is a paradoxical situation. In contrast to Singapore, although it is politically democratic but there is a perceived freedom of its people.

According to Zakaria, there are at least three reasons why Indonesia is not an ideal candidate for democracy today, namely:

1. Too dependent on natural resources
2. Weak political institutions
3. Economic level is still low

As a result the development of democracy in Indonesia gave birth to the economic contraction and the rise of religious fundamentalism. In view of Zakaria, an increase in religious fundamentalism can destroy local cultures, undermining secularism and increased separatism. Surely this is the view of people outside Indonesia, the most important is whether people in Indonesia are also acting as, or instead take advantage of democracy to the development of more advanced human freedom in Indonesia.

Description of Books

Book Title

The Future Of Freedom - Democracy At Home And illiberal Abroad

Author

Fareed Zakaria

Publisher

WWNorton & Company, New York & London

Year of Publication

2004