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INDONESIA, A NATION OF THOUSANDS OF ISLANDS AND ALMOST 250 MILLION PEOPLE, STRADDLES THE JUNCTION OF THE PACIFIC AND INDIAN OCEANS. CURRENT PRESIDENT SUSILO BAMBANG YUDHOYONO HAS PRESIDED OVER 6 PER CENT AVERAGE YEARLY GROWTH OF ITS ECONOMY, TO SURPASS $1 TRILLION. IF THIS RATE CONTINUES, INDONESIA WILL JOIN THE WORLD'S TEN BIGGEST ECONOMIES IN A DECADE OR SO, JUST BEHIND THE SO-CALLED BRIC COUNTRIES. THE MUCH-DISCUSSED RECENT DOCUMENTARY "THE ACT OF KILLING" REVIVED SOME OF ITS DARKER PAST, AND BARACK OBAMA'S REMINISCENCES ABOUT THE CHILDHOOD YEARS HE SPENT THERE BRIEFLY SHONE THE SPOTLIGHT ON A COUNTRY MANY AMERICANS KNOW LITTLE ABOUT. YET AS INDONESIA APPROACHES ITS 2014 PARLIAMENTARY AND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, ITS FUTURE IS WIDE OPEN. THOUGH THE LARGEST MUSLIM NATION BY POPULATION, IT REMAINS A RECEIVER OF WISDOM FROM THE ARAB WORLD, RATHER THAN A MESSENGER OF MULTI-RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE. ITS PURSUIT OF TRADE AGREEMENTS WITH JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA HAVE BURNISHED ITS ECONOMIC AMBITIONS, BUT ITS DIPLOMACY IS LONG ON SO-CALLED "SOFT POWER," AND SHORT ON SANCTIONS OR FORCE. SO WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THIS PIVOTAL PLACE? AWARD-WINNING ASIA-PACIFIC JOURNALIST HAMISH MCDONALD'S "DEMOKRASI" IS AN ACCESSIBLE AND AUTHORITATIVE INTRODUCTION TO THE MODERN HISTORY AND POLITICS OF THIS FASCINATING COUNTRY.