Review Books

Book: Nationalization Assets

Author: Mariah Kanumoyoso

Book Title: Strengthening Economic Role of the State: Nationalization of Dutch Companies in Indonesia.

Publisher: Sinar Harapan, Jakarta

Year: 2001

Length: 137 pages.

Implementation of the nationalization of Dutch companies is the embodiment of the pending economic sovereignty (p. 99).

“Wind Fresh” appears in the work of the nationalization of the Dutch in Indonesia, because the attention of the economic history of the contemporary period is rarely discussed by historians. [1] Especially concerning that highlights the problem of acquisition of Indonesian sovereignty in economic terms. This book certainly adds a new color in the economic history of Indonesia.

Book which is a master’s thesis on the history of science from the UI Kanumoyoso Bondan, presents the history of writing which is based on the methodology strukturistik. Changes (structural) social is the main goal of the methodology strukturistik. [2] Using this approach, the nationalization of the Dutch serve as an agent of change of economic structure that developed in the past, the hegemony of the Netherlands. Nationalization of Dutch asset embodies Indonesian economic sovereignty was achieved during the revolution.

Post circumstances Sovereignty

Economic policies implemented during the period of parliamentary democracy must take into account the economic condition in Indonesia is still dominated by the Dutch companies (p. 105).

State after Indonesia gained sovereignty in December 1949, is the recovery of the economy recently founded. At that time raised the infrastructure, industry, plantations and agriculture in various regions in Indonesia.

There is also the relationship between central and local distribution. Rationalization troops and a change in the bureaucratization of Dutch officials held by Natives. Condition of Dutch companies are still controlled by the Dutch. Form keadaulatan still half-heartedly. Which raises aspirations as a nation to get right in the form of economic sovereignty that had been owned and controlled by the Dutch. [3]

Nationalization and Indonesianization

Attention to economic development infused by Dr. Sumitro Djoyohadikusumo, who argued that Indonesia’s economic development is essentially a new economic development. So that needs to be changed economic structure of the colonial economy was heading the national economy. [4] This suggests that nationalization should be done as soon as possible, in order to create a national economy that is in the hands of the Indonesian nation itself.

However, problems arise, there is controversy on foreign capital. Indonesian businessmen proved slow to recover business world, even the credit of the government was considered to have failed. This led the government to take economic policies associated with these problems.

The government’s attitude toward foreign capital during the 1950s strongly influenced experience colonial Dutch East Indies (p. 36). To that came the idea to menagani crisis by seeking profit by Sepat. So that one of the business pursued by nationalizing De Javasche Bank as the central bank at the time. Fortress program was conducted to provide assistance to entrepreneurs by providing pnjaman money.

Mr. Iskaq Tjokrohadisurjo cabinet as minister of economy under Ali prefers Indonesianization policy, which encourages the growth and development of private entrepreneurs in an effort to overhaul the national indigenous colonial economy into the national economy. [5] Indonesianisasi an operational manifestation of economic nationalism.

The book is divided into three chapters talked about the importance of these events of nationalization of assets owned by the Dutch. However, the nationalization of the companies does not guarantee that the course of economic sectors would be rational so that the price of goods can be kept as low and speculation soon, but with based on the consideration that the sovereignty of Indonesia’s economy is difficult to enforce without nationalization, the nationalization measures supported spacious although the government still tries to act rationally (p. 40-41).