United States Policy Towards Indonesia in the Truman and Eisenhower Years

An analysis of US policy towards Indonesian nationalism that concludes Truman's support for independence was based on his Cold War priorities and not principled backing for self-determination and reveals Eisenhower's New Look led to a disastrous CIA-backed intervention, propelling Indonesia towards the Soviet bloc. Exposing the extent of Australian influence on US policy, this account reveals how the personal prejudices of Eisenhoewr and John Foster Dulles undermined the notion of rational policymaking.