Indonesia is an archipelago that includes more than 17,000 islands and stretches across three time zones. It is home to the world's largest Muslim population-more than 200 million Indonesians follow the faith. In 1998 Indonesians replaced the rule of a dictator with democracy, and since then the country has held free and open elections for president as well as for members of a national assembly. However, Indonesia is not without problems, particularly poverty and corruption. There is an armed separatist movement in Aceh, and Islamist terrorist groups like al-Qaeda have targeted Westerners on Bali. This book examines the economic and political issues facing Indonesia today. It provides up-to-date information about the country's geography and climate, history, society, important cities and communities, and relations with other countries