New Books at ISEAS Library – Mar 2024

The coalitions presidents make: presidential power and its limits in democratic Indonesia / Marcus Mietzner.  Ithaca, New York: Southeast Asia Program Publications, an imprint of Cornell University Press, 2023.

Call no: JQ771 M63

“The Coalitions Presidents Make details the process through which presidents balance their own powers and interests with those of their partners, encouraging patronage-oriented collaboration and disincentivizing confrontation. The author explains how Indonesia has turned its volatile post-authoritarian presidential system into one of the world’s most stable. He argues that since 2004, Indonesian presidents have deployed nuanced strategies of coalition building to consolidate their authority and these coalitions are responsible for the regime stability in place today. In building coalitions, Indonesian presidents have looked beyond parties and parliament-the traditional partners of presidents in most other countries” — Publisher.

The geopolitics of religious soft power: how states use religion in foreign policy / edited by Peter Mandaville.  New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2023.

Call no: BL65 I55G34

“This edited volume on “The Geopolitics of Religious Soft Power” explores how states across multiple world regions and a diverse range of faith traditions incorporate religion as an aspect of their foreign policy. The contributing authors are leading experts from around the world, and their chapters explore the role of religion in the global engagement of countries such as Brazil, China, India, Iran, Jordan, Indonesia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United States. States such as Israel and the Holy See, which by their nature have a unique relationship with religion, are also included.” — Publisher.