The development of sociology in Indonesia: the production of knowledge, state formation and economic change

Although various studies of sociology have been conducted, there has always been an opportunity for 'invention', namely, to create a space for further research of the same subject matter. This is the hidden theme of my thesis. And I have treated those previous studies as yardsticks from which to measure aspects of this particular research project, as an opportunity for reflection, and as a rich resource of information. To be more specific, the main subject matter of the present study is the propagation of sociological knowledge by Indonesian scholars. This has necessitated an investigation which distinguishes sociology as a social institution from sociology as scientific knowledge. This has also encouraged me to focus on the relations between the sociology of Indonesia and Indonesian sociologists on the one hand, and the state-society relationship on the other hand. The relation between the state and society in Indonesia has been the ongoing context for sociology in Indonesia and for Indonesian sociologists. Furthermore, I have also paid significant attention to the temporal dimensions of my primary subject matter. The formulation of the aforementioned focus has been inseparable from the use of Elias' theoretical framework. Elias' ideas of process sociology, and the relations between conventional philosophical and sociological approaches of the acquisition of scientific knowledge have provided me with an alternative perspective. My research has demonstrated that not only has the birth of the sociology of Indonesia aided the emergence of Indonesian sociologists, but the latter has been conditioned by the former. Furthermore, the current state-society relationship has largely been a result of a long evolutionary process, which can be traced back to the creation of an overdeveloped state and underdeveloped-plural society during the colonial era. Therefore, the struggle of Indonesian sociologists for social recognition as intellectuals has been intertwined with those factors. Within this context, it is true that the development of Indonesian sociology and sociologists have been influenced by their social context, that is, by their political, economic and cultural context. The development of international sociology has also significantly influenced them rather than the other way around. None the less, both sociology and Indonesian sociologists have to a degree influenced their own context. For more than a quarter of a century, Indonesian sociologists have developed their own community within a context of imbalanced power relations between the state and society. And it has also been during this epoch they have taken part in balancing the relation between the state and society in Indonesia. The relation between the state and society in Indonesia has been far from achieving equilibrium up to now. Protection regarding social dynamics has yet to be distinguished from a strong state patronage of society. The structure of Indonesian society has also undergone a crystallisation process - along with the formation of Indonesians. And Indonesian sociologists have had many tasks associated with actualising those matters. Indonesian sociologists have developed alongside the maturation of Indonesia up to now; and there is no other path for them but to make greater attempts to take part in providing a means of orientation for the future development of Indonesia. Indonesian sociologists cannot solve everything, but they can certainly do better.