Reflections on the Indonesian Massacres in Cold War Historiography and Political Economy

In a previous article for Genocide Studies International (8.2), entitled Polluting the Waters, an examination of the anti-communist propaganda campaigns and their relationship to the Indonesian massacres was offered. This follow up article presents provocative reflections on the manner in which the massacres have been treated within the anti-communist Cold War canon. The treatment of the massacres is an example of how ideological factors have not only shaped perceptions of this event, it has also falsified and diminished important elements of this history. The result has been to effectively excuse the perpetrators of the Indonesian massacres on ideological grounds leaving the victims to be forgotten.