Napoleon Would Appreciate Indonesia’s Good Luck
Big shifts in the global economy are buoying the nation’s outlook. They’re also a gift to Prabowo, the former general who is soon to be president.
A general comes to office.
Source: Josse/Leemage/Corbis Historical/Getty Images
Napoleon Bonaparte was renown for preferring his generals be lucky rather than good. It makes sense some of that would rub off on Prabowo Subianto, the one-time military commander who’s preparing to be sworn in as Indonesia’s next president. The nation’s economic prospects have been buoyed by major changes in the critical commercial powers at a particularly opportune moment. His priority should be to ensure he doesn’t squander the opportunity.
The global outlook will shape Indonesia’s prospects more than anything dome by Prabowo, who will take office on Oct. 20. The sprawling archipelago is often depicted as a rising star, even mentioned in the same breath as India and China. But like most emerging markets, it depends on capital flows and investment decisions that originate far from home.