One of the most important reforms of the post-Suharto period has been the creation of a highly dynamic and competitive
party system - particularly remarkable given an absence of democratic party politics in Indonesia for more than 40 years.
Yet despite positive indicators for a healthy and functioning party system, Indonesians are highly critical of the parties
and their leaders; and opinion polls rank political parties among the institutions considered most corrupt, ineffective and
unresponsive. Marcus Mietzner examines whether this criticism is justified.
