A Rising Tide in Indonesia:.

Indonesia, the most populous Islamic nation, is struggling to democratize. Part of this effort relies upon civics courses that attempt to impart democratic skills, as a supplement to Pancasila, the state ideology impressed upon students at every grade level of education. One-third of Indonesians are under fifteen years of age. They face challenges posed by corruption and poverty. They are also entering into a political environment where attitudes toward the United States are largely unfavorable, and one where many political parties, including Islamic parties, are actively recruiting voters. I explore a new civics curriculum in instruction as a means to foster commitment to democratic principles and behaviors considered important for democratic stability. The data analyzed here are based on a study I conducted on 1,500 adolescents in six diverse provinces in 2002-03. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]