"The authors argue that Indonesia's path to democracy was borne out of necessity brought about by a state of extreme precariousness and then molded by its lack thereof. Its lack thereof precisely reflected the internal power struggle and elite competition between remnant groups of the New Order vying under a different set of circumstances ... This study highlights and evaluates both the specific 'steps forward' (necessity present) as well as the contentious 'steps back' (necessity absent) Indonesia has taken so far in its reformasi journey in an attempt to redefine the new polity"--Introduction.