On the Subject of Java

Very readable and relevant not only to academic anthropologists but anyone interested in Indonesian history. Pemberton extends Hobsbawn's notion of "invented traditions" to show how Soeharto's new order has constructed Java and greater Indonesia according to his nationalist agenda. Pemberton's overall argument is argued more or less cogently. However, a problem emerges as he endeavors to depict Java and its traditions as a construct. Namely, Pemberton has a tendency to lump all Javanese experience together, assuming that individuals of different backgrounds all share the same understading of Java and its traditions. Pemberton ultimately overestimates the extent of the political center's power over all Javanese. As a result, this makes for good history but is not thorough enough in its approach and is to generalizing to be considered a good ethnography.