He may be considered a 'military dictator', but through his swift and absolute will, he was able to contain and silence the secessionist groups that would have had Indonesia disintegrated into weakened states that could be easily controlled by the west. One nation that wanted the destruction of the Indonesian Union was Australia and the British government, which tried hard during the Konfrontasi epoch.
The west 'Fears' a large and unified South East Asia, particularly one that is hostile to the west and could threaten shipping lanes in the Straits of Malacca. Hence, Australia, the British and the Americans supplied and supported rebel groups in current Sumatra, Sulawesi and Irian Jaya in attempts to weaken Indonesia.
50 years later, with a surging economy and a national population of 240+ million and growing, Indonesia is the 4th most populous nation in the world, and the largest in Asia, behind China and India.
Suharto provided the bureaucratic foundation for the Republican system that Indonesia would later evolve, and it was Suharto with his 'moderate' policies that allowed the secularism in Indonesia to manifest itself. Islam, Christianity (Catholicism in particular), as well as native religions could live cooperatively. He solidified the nation, even those who were fervently against Suharto's military policies, retained the foundation that he provided.
He molded the governmental system in place within the Wide Arms of Jakarta. He nationalized the concept of
Indonesia Raya Pancasila, which translates as "The Greater Indonesian Brotherhood". It built on the concept of "through our variances and differences, we are one." That is his legacy to the region. Afterall, a stable Indonesia is a stable ASEAN.
Something that the Philippine government should have tried to implement during the 50s and 60s.
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