Indonesia is a prime example for studies of nationalism in postcolonial societies: since 1912 Java has been the place of a historically unprecedented independence movement. Only with the example of Indonesia and especially Java can we understand what it means for a colonial territory to spread the ideas of independence and the nation state. The terms and the idea of unity were unknown to the peoples of the future Indonesia. Sukarno is the man who made it possible and united this diverse archipelago and became its first president.

Axel Weber is a political scientist and political anthropologist. Axel spent a considerable amount of time in Indonesia with an NGO and the ASEAN Secretariat.