SOAS Research Online

Authored Books

Buehler, Michael (2016) The Politics of Shari'a Law: Islamist Activists and the State in Democratizing Indonesia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Book Chapters

Buehler, Michael (2018) 'The Ephemeral Nature of Local Political Monopolies.' In: Hefner, Robert W., (ed.), Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Indonesia. Abingdon; New York: Routledge, pp. 106-117.

Buehler, Michael (2014) 'Elite Competition and Changing State-Society Relations: Shari’a Policymaking in Indonesia.' In: Ford, Michele and Pepinsky, Tom, (eds.), Beyond Oligarchy: Wealth, Power, and Contemporary Indonesian Politics. Ithaca: Cornell Southeast Asia Program Publications, pp. 157-175.

Buehler, Michael (2012) 'Indonesia.' In: Countries at the Crossroads. New York City: Freedom House, pp. 1-33.

Buehler, Michael (2010) 'Decentralisation and Local Democracy in Indonesia: The Marginalisation of the Public Sphere.' In: Aspinall, Edward and Mietzner, Marcus, (eds.), Problems of Democratisation in Indonesia: Elections, Institutions and Society. Singapore: ISEAS, pp. 267-285.

Buehler, Michael (2010) 'Indonesia.' In: Countries at the Crossroads. New York City: Freedom House, pp. 273-296.

Buehler, Michael (2009) 'The Rising Importance of Personal Networks in Indonesian Local Politics: An Analysis of the District Government Head Elections in South Sulawesi in 2005.' In: Erb, Maribeth and Sulistiyanto, Priyambudi, (eds.), Deepening Democracy in Indonesia: Direct Elections for Local Leaders. Singapore: ISEAS, pp. 101-124.

Journal Article

Buehler, Michael, Greif, Adi, Nataatmadja, Ronnie, Meijerink, Marius and Nichols, Austin (2024) 'Institutional Reforms and Political Context: An Evaluation of the Indonesia Procurement Modernization Project.' Asia Policy, 19 (3). pp. 117-152.

Buehler, Michael (2024) 'Unity through Division: Re-evaluating Democracy in Indonesia.' Asia Policy, 19 (2). pp. 210-212.

Buehler, Michael (2023) 'Do discriminatory laws have societal origins? The diffusion of anti-Ahmadiyah regulations in Indonesia.' Politics and Religion, 16 (3). pp. 468-491.

Buehler, Michael, Nataatmadja, Ronnie and Anugrah, Iqra (2021) 'Limitations to subnational authoritarianism: Indonesian local government head elections in comparative perspective.' Regional and Federal Studies, 31 (3). pp. 381-404.

Buehler, Michael (2021) 'Indonesia in 2020: Pestilence and Incompetence.' Asian Survey, 61 (1). pp. 106-114.

Buehler, Michael and Nataatmadja, Ronnie (2020) 'Authoritarian diasporas in Indonesia and the Philippines: comparative perspectives on elite survival and defection.' Democratization, 28 (3). pp. 521-538.

Buehler, Michael (2020) '"Try to be more like Norway on a Sunny Day!" Regulatory Capitalism and the Challenges of Combatting Corruption in Indonesia's Upstream Oil and Gas Sector Supply Chains.' Oil, Gas and Energy Law Intelligence, 4.

Buehler, Michael and Nataatmadja, Ronnie (2019) 'A research agenda for studying legislative incumbent turnover in new democracies, using Indonesia as a case study.' South East Asia Research, 27 (3). pp. 203-224.

Pisani, Elizabeth and Buehler, Michael (2016) 'Why do Indonesian politicians promote shari’alaws? An analytic framework for Muslim-majority democracies.' Third World Quarterly, 38 (3). pp. 734-752.

Buehler, Michael and Muhtada, Dani (2016) 'Democratization and the Diffusion of Shari'a Law: Comparative Insights from Indonesia.' South East Asia Research, 24 (2). pp. 261-282.

Schraufnagel, Scot, Buehler, Michael and Lowry-Fritz, Maureen (2014) 'Voter Turnout in Democratizing Southeast Asia: A Comparative Analysis of Electoral Participation in Five Countries.' Taiwan Journal of Democracy, 10 (1). pp. 1-22.

Buehler, Michael (2013) 'Subnational Islamization through Secular Parties: Comparing Shari’a Politics in Two Indonesian Provinces.' Comparative Politics, 46 (1). pp. 63-82.

Buehler, Michael (2012) 'Revisiting the inclusion-moderation thesis in the context of decentralized institutions: The behavior of Indonesia’s Prosperous Justice Party in national and local politics.' Party Politics, 19 (2). pp. 210-229.

Buehler, Michael (2011) 'Indonesia's Law on Public Services: changing state-society relations or continuing politics as usual?' Bulletin of Indonesian Economic Studies, 47 (1). pp. 65-86.

Buehler, Michael (2009) 'Islam and Democracy in Indonesia.' Insight Turkey, 11 (4). pp. 51-63.

Buehler, Michael (2008) 'Shari’a By-Laws in Indonesian Districts: An Indication for Changing Patterns of Power Accumulation and Political Corruption.' South East Asia Research, 16 (2). pp. 165-195.

Buehler, Michael and Tan, Paige (2007) 'Party-Candidate Relationships in Indonesian Local Politics: A Case Study of the 2005 Regional Elections in Gowa, South Sulawesi Province.' Indonesia, 84. pp. 41-69.

Buehler, Michael (2007) 'Local Elite Reconfiguration in Post-New Order Indonesia: An Analysis of the 2005 Elections of District Government Heads.' Review of Indonesian and Malaysian Affairs, 41 (1). pp. 119-147.

Monographs and Working Papers

Heubaum, Harald, Jackson, Felicia, Buehler, Michael, Adib-Moghaddam, Arshin and Sadriu, Behar (2018) The Protracted Geo-economics of Energy. London: Background Paper for the 2020 World Bank report Building For Peace: Reconstruction for Security, Sustainable Peace and Equity in MENA. Washington, DC: World Bank.

Book Reviews

Buehler, Michael (2021) 'Review of Carlos Gervasoni (2018). Hybrid Regimes within Democracies: Fiscal Federalism and Subnational Rentier States, Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.' Publius, 51 (3). pp. 25-27.

Buehler, Michael (2019) 'Review of Andreas Harsono (2019). Race, Islam and power: ethnic and religious violence in post-Suharto Indonesia. Victoria, Monash University Publishing.' South East Asia Research, 27 (4). pp. 439-441.

Buehler, Michael (2019) 'Review of Thomas B. Pepinsky, R. William Liddle, and Saiful Mujani (2018). Piety and Public Opinion: Understanding Indonesian Islam. New York: Oxford University Press.' Perspectives on Politics, 17 (2). pp. 610-612.

Buehler, Michael (2019) 'Review of Menchik, Jeremy. 2017. Islam and Democracy in Indonesia: Tolerance without Liberalism. New York City: Cambridge University Press.' ASEASUK . pp. 1-5.

Buehler, Michael (2018) 'Review of Kanchan Chandra, Ed., 2016. Democratic Dynasties: State, Party and Family in Contemporary Indian Politics. New York City: Cambridge University Press.' ASEASUK Newsletter .

Buehler, Michael (2018) 'Review of David Kloos. 2017. Becoming better Muslims: Religious authority and ethical improvement in Aceh, Indonesia. Princeton, NJ, Princeton University Press.' Politics, Religion and Ideology, 19 (3). pp. 421-422.

Buehler, Michael (2018) 'Review of Winn, Patrick. Hello, Shadowlands: Inside the Meth Fiefdoms, Rebel Hideouts and Bomb-scarred Party Towns of Southeast Asia. London: Icon Books.' New Mandala : New Perspectives on Southeast Asia .

Buehler, Michael (2017) 'Review of: Hadiz, Vedi R. 2016. Islamic Populism in Indonesia and the Middle East, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.' ASEASUK News, 62 (2017). pp. 27-30.

Buehler, Michael (2016) 'Review of: The Ruling Elite of Singapore: Networks of Power and Influence, by Michael Barr. London: I.B. Tauris, 2016.' South East Asia Research, 24 (4). pp. 540-542.

Buehler, Michael (2016) 'Review of:Illiberal Practices: Territorial Variance within Large Federal Democracies, by Jacqueline Behrend and Laurence Whitehead. Baltimore, MD: John Hopkins University Press, 2016.' Publius: The Journal of Federalism, 47 (1). e3.

Buehler, Michael (2016) 'Review of: Women and sharia law in Northern Indonesia: local women’s NGOs and the reform of Islamic law in Aceh by Dina Afrianty. New York: Routledge, 2015.' Journal of Gender Studies, 25 (5). pp. 613-614.

Buehler, Michael (2016) 'Review of Political Authority and Provincial Identity in Thailand by Nishizaki, Yoshinori. 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Southeast Asia Program Publications.' South East Asia Research, 24 (1). pp. 158-163.

Buehler, Michael (2015) 'Review of: Indonesia’s Changing Political Economy: Governing the Roads by Jamie Davidson, Cambridge University Press, 2015.' Contemporary Southeast Asia, 37 (3). pp. 492-494.

Buehler, Michael (2015) 'Review of: Indonesian women and local politics: Islam, gender, and networks in post-Suharto Indonesia by Dewi Kurniawati Hastuti, NUS Press, Singapore, 2015.' Journal of Gender Studies, 24 (6). pp. 705-707.

Buehler, Michael (2015) 'Review of: Democrats and Autocrats: Pathways of Subnational Undemocratic Regime Continuity within Democratic Countries by Agustina Giraudy, New York: Oxford University Press 2015.; Rebecca Weitz-Shapiro 2015. Curbing Clientelism in Argentina: Politics, Poverty, and Social Policy by Rebecca Weitz-Shapiro. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2015.' Publius: The Journal of Federalism, 46 (1).

Buehler, Michael (2015) 'Review of: Shari‘a and Social Engineering: The Implementation of Islamic Law in Contemporary Aceh, Indonesia by R. Michael Feener. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013. 335 pp.' Indonesia, 98 . pp. 148-152.

Buehler, Michael (2014) 'Review of: State management of religion in Indonesia, by Myengkyo Seo, New York: Routledge, 2013; The roots of terrorismin Indonesia: from Darul Islam to Jema'ah Islamiyah, by Solahudin, Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2013; Contemporary developments in Indonesian Islam: explaining the “conservative turn”, edited by Martin van Bruinessen, Singapore: ISEAS,2013.' Democratization, 22 (3). pp. 580-585.

Buehler, Michael (2014) 'Review of: Boundary Control: Subnational Authoritarianism in Federal Democracies by Edward Gibson. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2012.' Publius, 44 (2).

Buehler, Michael (2014) 'Review of: Political Change and Territoriality in Indonesia: Provincial Proliferation by Ehito Kimura. London: Routledge, 2013.' Indonesia, 97 . pp. 135-138.

Buehler, Michael (2014) 'Review of: Regional Dynamics in a Decentralized Indonesia, edited by Hal Hill. Singapore: ISEAS, 2014.' ASEASUK News, 56 . pp. 29-31.

Buehler, Michael (2014) 'Review of: Warlords, Strongman Governors, and the State in Afghanistan by Dipali Mukhopadhyay. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2014.' Publius: The Journal of Federalism, 44 (4). e15.

Buehler, Michael (2012) 'Localising Power in Post-Authoritarian Indonesia: A Southeast Asia Perspective.' Social Forces, 93 (2). e31.

Buehler, Michael (2012) 'Review of: Local Politics in Indonesia: Pathways to Power by Nankyung Choi. London; New York: Routledge, 2011.' Publius, 42 (4).

Buehler, Michael (2011) 'Review of: Islamism and Democracy in Indonesia: Piety and Pragmatism by Masdar Hilmy. Singapore: ISEAS, 2010.' Indonesia, 91 . pp. 211-214.

Buehler, Michael (2010) 'Book Review: Pepinsky, T. B. (2009). Economic Crises and the Breakdown of Authoritarian Regimes: Indonesia and Malaysia in Comparative Perspective. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.' Comparative Political Studies, 44 (2). pp. 245-249.

Buehler, Michael (2010) 'Political Reform in Indonesia after Soeharto.' Indonesia, 90 . pp. 189-192.

Buehler, Michael (2010) 'Review of: State of Authority: the State in Society in Indonesia, edited by Gerry van Klinken and Joshua Barker. Ithaca: Cornell Southeast Asia Program Publications, 2009.' South East Asia Research, 18 (2). pp. 349-359.

Buehler, Michael (2005) 'Review of: Towards Good Society: Civil Society Actors, The State, and the Business Class in South East Asia: Facilitators of or Impediments to a Strong, Democratic, and Fair Society?" by Heinrich Boell Foundation, 2005.' Asien: The German Journal on Contemporary Asia (105). pp. 128-129.

Other

Buehler, Michael (2020) 'Regulating the regulators: Regulators, contracts and corruption in Indonesia’s upstream oil and gas sector.' Inside Indonesia, 142 . Northcote, Vic: Indonesian Resources and Information Program (IRIP).

Buehler, Michael (2020) 'MCC Indonesia Procurement Modernization Project Evaluation - Final Evaluation Report.' In: MCC Indonesia Procurement Modernization Project Evaluation - Final Evaluation Report. Bethesda: ABT Associates.

Buehler, Michael (2019) 'Indonesia takes a wrong turn in crusade against corruption: New legislation will undermine the KPK, but the bigger mistake is conceptual.' The Financial Times .

Buehler, Michael (2018) 'The fault lines between rich and poor inLombok quake: Notes from a research trip interrupted by Indonesia’s most deadly earthquake in years.' New Mandala . Canberra:

Buehler, Michael (2018) 'Dynamism beats dynasties in Indonesia’s local elections.' East Asia Forum: Dynamism beats dynasties in Indonesia’s local elections . pp. 1-4.

Buehler, Michael (2018) 'Desperation in the Indonesian diaspora.' new mandala (online) (17 Apr).

Buehler, Michael (2017) 'Informal Networks, Formal Politics and The Politicization of Islam in Indonesia [Online Article].' Middle East Institute .

Buehler, Michael (2015) 'Lobbyist questions still unanswered.' New Mandala.

Buehler, Michael (2015) 'Soal lobi, pertanyaan yang belum dijawab.' New Mandala.

Buehler, Michael (2015) 'Waiting in the White House Lobby: Why did a Singaporean consultant pay $80,000 to a Las Vegas PR company to lobby for the Indonesian government?' New Mandala.

Buehler, Michael (2015) 'Indonesia’s dramatic executions hide the real problem: Indonesia’s draconian narcotics laws kill the country’s citizens – not low-level drug traffickers.' Aljazeera.

Sacks, Audrey, Rahman, Erman, Turkewitz, Joel, Buehler, Michael and Saleh, Imad (2014) 'The dynamics of centralized procurement reform in a decentralized state : evidence and lessons from Indonesia.' Policy Research Working Paper WPS6977 . World Bank.

Buehler, Michael (2014) 'Married with Children: The second round of direct elections for governors and district heads shows that democratisation is allowing powerful families to entrench themselves in local politics.' Inside Indonesia, 112 .

Buehler, Michael (2014) 'The reassertion of the state.' New Mandala .

Buehler, Michael (2013) 'Peer Review of Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance Assessment of Indonesia.' In: Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance Assessment of Indonesia: Final Report 2013. Washington D.C.: USAID. pp. 65-72.

Buehler, Michael (2013) 'A False Hope? Indonesia's Economic Miracle.' The Diplomat:

Buehler, Michael (2012) 'Angels and Demons: While a famous ‘reformer’ tries to undermine Indonesia’s local democratic institutions, the predators come to the rescue.' Inside Indonesia, 108 .

Buehler, Michael (2012) 'Government Fiddles While Indonesia's Workforce Burns.' In: Asia Society Blog.

Buehler, Michael (2012) '"Resource Nationalism" Clouds Indonesia’s Economic Prospects.' In: The Diplomat.

Buehler, Michael (2011) 'Partainya Sekuler, Aturannya Syariah.' Tempo - Liputan Khusus 10 Tahun Perda Syariah . pp. 74-75.

Buehler, Michael (2011) 'Whodunit? Politicians affiliated with secular parties implement most shari'a regulations.' Tempo Magazine - Special Edition 10 Years of Sharia . pp. 58-59.

Buehler, Michael (2009) 'Special Feature: The ‘judicial mafia’ and judicial reform in Indonesia.' Van Zorge Report, XI (12). Jakarta: pp. 10-23.

Buehler, Michael (2009) 'The New Regional Taxation Law: an end to predatory taxation?' Van Zorge Report, XI (8). Jakarta: pp. 9-11.

Buehler, Michael (2009) 'Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative a potential boon to anti-corruption drive.' XI, 3 . Jakarta: Van Zorge Report. pp. 15-18.

Buehler, Michael (2009) 'New Investigations show Corruption Eradication Commission can still bite.' Van Zorge Report, XI (5). Jakarta: pp. 15-17.

Buehler, Michael (2009) 'New Public Services Law a Step Towards Reform.' Van Zorge Report, XI (5). Jakarta: pp. 12-17.

Buehler, Michael (2009) 'Special Feature: Indonesia’s multi-faceted response to AIDS: Administrative red tape, Inertia of political Leaders, Discrimination of patients, Subversion of donor money.' Van Zorge Report, XI (7). Jakarta: pp. 13-23.

Buehler, Michael (2009) 'Suicide and Progress in Modern Nusantara: The Absence of Political Murders in Indonesian Elections.' Inside Indonesia, 96 .

Buehler, Michael (2008) 'No Positive News: People living with HIV in Indonesia face Corruption and Incompetence in the Health System.' Inside Indonesia, 94 .

Buehler, Michael (2007) 'Rise of the clans: Direct elections in South Sulawesi show that a new breed of political godfathers is coming to power in Indonesia's regions.' Inside Indonesia, 90 .

Buehler, Michael and Yunita, Rahmi (2005) 'Decentralization, The Transport Sector, and Corruption Monitoring: The First Eastern Indonesia Transport Project.' In: Information, Incentives and Integrity: Overcoming Obstacles to Effective Anti-Corruption Monitoring in World Bank Financed Projects in Indonesia. Singapore: N/A. (Unpublished)