How a military-backed secretariat became Indonesia's most enduring and controversial political machine

Countries & Cities · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Founded in 1964 as a counterweight to communist influence, Golkar evolved from a loose federation of functional groups into the primary engine of Suharto's authoritarian New Order. By blending state power with electoral dominance, it maintained a grip on Indonesian politics that has persisted long after its founder's fall.

Golkar began as the Sekretariat Bersama Golongan Karya, a Joint Secretariat of Functional Groups established by army officers in 1964. Its original purpose was to serve as a bulwark against the rising power of the Indonesian Communist Party. Following a failed 1965 coup attempt, the military consolidated power, and Suharto, who had led the army's response, eventually assumed the presidency. Seeking a vehicle for political legitimacy that avoided traditional party labels, Suharto transformed this secretariat into his personal electoral machine.

Under the guidance of Suharto's associate Ali Murtopo, Golkar was rebranded as a non-ideological entity focused solely on economic development and stability. This strategy allowed the regime to frame political participation as a matter of loyalty to the state. Civil servants were encouraged to support the party, and the government utilized the military and various organizations to suppress opposition. By the 1971 elections, this approach secured a landslide victory, cementing Golkar's role as the ruling organization throughout the three decades of the New Order.

The party's dominance was absolute during Suharto's tenure, facilitating his unopposed re-elections in 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, and 1998. While the regime oversaw significant economic growth and infrastructure development, it was also characterized by systemic corruption and the concentration of wealth among urban elites and the president's inner circle. Following the 1997 Asian currency crisis and the subsequent collapse of the New Order in 1998, Golkar transitioned into a standard political party. Despite losing its monopoly on power, it has remained a major force in Indonesian democracy, participating in various governing coalitions for over five decades.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• How Indonesia’s presidency evolved from a ceremonial role to a powerful directly elected office
• How a former army general built Indonesia's most powerful populist political machine
• From revolutionary militia to political powerhouse: the complex evolution of the Indonesian Army
• From federalism to a unitary state: Indonesia's path to central power
• The legislative body that once declared a president 'for life'
• How a rejected script about a janitor became a Hollywood legend
• How a West African colony became the world's leading cocoa exporter under British rule
• Google's quest to digitize every book on Earth faces a massive metadata crisis.
• Goguryeo: The Ancient Korean Kingdom That Once Dominated Northeast Asia
• How a web experiment became the world's most collaborative word processor
• How a royal craving for spicy rice transformed a humble Korean condiment into legend
• The bureaucratic architect who expanded the Waffen-SS through clever manipulation

More in Countries and other regions · More in Countries & Cities · Latest · A–Z · All topics