Indonesia’s transformation into a stable democracy over the past quarter century was as improbable as it was remarkable. Ethnic and religious violence across the sprawling archipelago raised the specter of Balkanization or a military crackdown. Then, against the odds, the nation’s entrenched elites acceded to public demands for reform and the military withdrew from political life, ushering in an era of open, competitive elections. Corruption and dysfunction persisted, but the world’s fourth most populous country emerged as a rare bright spot for liberalism. Indonesians will vote for a new president on Wednesday to succeed the outgoing Joko Widodo.

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Persons: Suharto, Joko