Indonesia

THE REPUBLIC OF Indonesia has had a troubled political history throughout much of its existence. As the fourth most populous country and the largest Muslim country in the world, Indonesia continues to be closely watched in the 21st century as it struggles to reassert itself as a democracy. Indonesia is made up of 17,000 islands, making it the largest archipelago in the world. Located between the Pacific and Indian Oceans, Indonesia was a prime target for imperialism in the 17th century, coming under the domination of the Netherlands. The Japanese occupied Indonesia during World War II. After the war, Indonesia declared independence in response to a growing nationalist movement. Indonesian independence was short-lived, however, for the Netherlands, aided by Great Britain, quickly reestablished its claim ...