Political management in the Indonesian family planning program
Shiffman, J.
International Family Planning Perspectives 30(1): 27-33
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 0190-3187 PMID: 15082414 DOI: 10.2307/3181013Document Number: 233290
Because of the political nature of family planning programmes, their administrators face many challenges, among them, building bureaucratic alliances, neutralizing religious opposition and securing social support. This article discusses political management in the Indonesian family planning programme during the Suharto era (1970s-1990s), as the programme is considered to have made a large contribution to Indonesia's rise in contraceptive use and decline in fertility. The article explores how the National Family Planning Coordinating Board addressed 3 political challenges: diffusing religious opposition, overcoming a weak human resource base and generating implementation support from the bureaucracy.