Born in Vienna, Austria in 1930, Feith witnessed oppression of the Jews and witnessed Kristallnacht in 1938 at the age of 7.[2] He came to Australia as a refugee in 1939 with his Austrian Jewish parents, one of a few thousand Jews granted humanitarian visas. He took an undergraduate degree in political science at the University of Melbourne, working with Professor William Macmahon Ball. After graduating, fascinated with Asia and inspired by Molly Bondan, he got a job in Jakarta in at the Indonesian Department of Information and worked from 1951 to 1952 as an Indonesian civil servant on a local salary. This gave him contacts and language fluency. His Masters at Melbourne was completed in 1954.[3]
Still in his twenties, he helped to negotiate an inter-governmental agreement whereby new Australian graduates could volunteer for service as Indonesian public servants. The Volunteer Graduate Scheme has expanded to become Australian Volunteers International. Feith and his new wife, Betty, returned to Indonesia as the first volunteers under the scheme from 1954 to 1956.[4] Later he obtained a PhD scholarship at Cornell University (1957–1960). His thesis later became a renowned book, The Decline of Constitutional Democracy in Indonesia.[5]
After working as a post-doctoral fellow at the Australian National University he was appointed to a lectureship in Politics at Monash University in Melbourne, in the early 1960s. He helped found the Monash Centre of Southeast Asian Studies, which became one of the world's best institutes on the region.[6] He was promoted to Professor in 1968. Unusually, he demoted himself 1974, to avoid bureaucracy associated with the Chair. He re-oriented from academic scholarship to more activist work, but continued teaching and research, taking early retirement from Monash in 1990.[7]
In retirement he returned to Indonesia with Betty, teaching at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta and Andalas University in Padang, West Sumatra, again on local salaries.[8] A lifelong Melbourne cyclist, he died while pushing his bicycle across a train line near his small house in Glen Iris, Melbourne. Feith was 71 years old, and had three children and several grandchildren.
Recognition and activism
Feith was guided by a strong sense of social justice, human rights and worked with international peace movements.[9] In Melbourne he assisted Indonesian asylum seekers who faced persecution under the Suharto regime, and was active in a range of campaigns. With Amnesty International, he negotiated to free political prisoners in Indonesia. He practised voluntary simplicity and was renowned as an inspiring lecturer and teacher.[10][11]
Although relationships with some nationalist contacts became difficult, he supported West Papuan independence and assisted at the violent elections in East Timor in 1999. He was "a staunch defender of the right to self-determination of the East Timorese people; but rather than adopting a confrontational approach, he would offer face-saving solutions that would allow Indonesia to withdraw with dignity".[12]
The Herb Feith Foundation was established after his death to undertake a number of activities in the fields of education and publishing related to Indonesia and East Timor. The Herb Feith Chair at Monash was established in 2007. Greg Barton was the inaugural Chair (2007-2015), and followed by Ariel Heryanto (2016-2019). In December 2016 the foundation presented a human rights education award to Indonesian poet Putu Oka Sukanta.[13] The Foundation was wound up in 2018 and replaced by the Monash Herb Feith Indonesian Engagement Centre.
Key publications
Feith, H. 1962. The Decline of Constitutional Democracy in Indonesia. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN0-8014-0126-7
Feith, H. & L. Castles. 1970. Indonesian Political Thinking, 1945–1965. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. (Indonesian trans. 1988)
Feith, H. 1971. Asia's Flashpoint, 1971: Bangla Desh. Bedford Park, S.A.: Flinders University.
Mortimer R., H. Feith and R. Tiffen (eds). 1984. Stubborn Survivors: Dissenting Essays On Peasants And Third World Development. Melbourne: Centre of Southeast Asian Studies, Monash University.
Scott D., H. Feith and P. Walsh. 1992. East Timor: Towards A Just Peace in The 1990s. Canberra, A.C.T.: Australian Council for Overseas Aid.
Feith H., E. Baulch and P. Walsh. 1994. George J. Aditjondro, East Timor: an Indonesian intellectual speaks out. Deakin, A.C.T.: Australian Council for Overseas Aid.
Feith, H. 1995. Soekarno militer dalam demokrasi terpimpin. Jakarta: Pustaka Sinar Harapan.
Aspinall E., H. Feith & G. Van Klinken (eds) 1999. The Last Days of President Suharto. Clayton, Vic: Monash Asia Institute.
Feith, H. 1999. Pemilihan umum 1955 di Indonesia. Jakarta: Kepustakaan Populer Gramedia.
Biography
Purdey, J. 2011. From Vienna to Yogyakarta: The life of Herb Feith. Sydney: UNSW Press. ISBN978-1-74223-280-5
Purdey, J. (ed.) 2012. Knowing Indonesia: Intersections of Self, Discipline and Nation. Clayton Vic: Monash University Press.
References
^Evans, Rachel (28 November 2001). . Green Left Weekly. Archived from the original on 1 December 2007. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
^Purdey, Jemma. From Vienna to Yogyakarta: The life of Herb Feith. Sydney: UNSW Press, 2011.
^Feith, H. 1954. Political Developments in Indonesia in the Period of the Wilopo Cabinet, April 1952 – June 1953. Thesis (M.A.) University of Melbourne, Dept. of Arts.
^Purdey, Jemma (Spring 2008). "Many Voices, One Life: Dealing with Memory and "Telling" in the Biography of Herb Feith" (PDF). Journal of Historical Biography. 3: 56–86.
^Indonesian Politics 1949–1957: The decline of the representative government (PhD Thesis), Ithaca (N.Y.): Cornell University, 1961.
^Walsh, Pat (20 February 2017). "A drink for humanity". Inside Indonesia. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
February 10, 2023
herbert, feith, november, 1930, november, 2001, australian, academic, world, leading, scholar, indonesian, politics, born, 1930, november, 1930vienna, austriadied15, november, 2001, 2001, aged, melbourne, australianationalityaustralianeducationcornell, univers. Herbert Feith 3 November 1930 15 November 2001 1 was an Australian academic and world leading scholar of Indonesian politics Herbert FeithBorn 1930 11 03 3 November 1930Vienna AustriaDied15 November 2001 2001 11 15 aged 71 Melbourne AustraliaNationalityAustralianEducationCornell University University of MelbourneOccupationAcademicKnown forWork as a scholar of Indonesian politics and activities as an activist in support of social justiceSpouseBetty Feith nee Evans Contents 1 Background 2 Recognition and activism 3 Key publications 4 Biography 5 ReferencesBackground EditBorn in Vienna Austria in 1930 Feith witnessed oppression of the Jews and witnessed Kristallnacht in 1938 at the age of 7 2 He came to Australia as a refugee in 1939 with his Austrian Jewish parents one of a few thousand Jews granted humanitarian visas He took an undergraduate degree in political science at the University of Melbourne working with Professor William Macmahon Ball After graduating fascinated with Asia and inspired by Molly Bondan he got a job in Jakarta in at the Indonesian Department of Information and worked from 1951 to 1952 as an Indonesian civil servant on a local salary This gave him contacts and language fluency His Masters at Melbourne was completed in 1954 3 Still in his twenties he helped to negotiate an inter governmental agreement whereby new Australian graduates could volunteer for service as Indonesian public servants The Volunteer Graduate Scheme has expanded to become Australian Volunteers International Feith and his new wife Betty returned to Indonesia as the first volunteers under the scheme from 1954 to 1956 4 Later he obtained a PhD scholarship at Cornell University 1957 1960 His thesis later became a renowned book The Decline of Constitutional Democracy in Indonesia 5 After working as a post doctoral fellow at the Australian National University he was appointed to a lectureship in Politics at Monash University in Melbourne in the early 1960s He helped found the Monash Centre of Southeast Asian Studies which became one of the world s best institutes on the region 6 He was promoted to Professor in 1968 Unusually he demoted himself 1974 to avoid bureaucracy associated with the Chair He re oriented from academic scholarship to more activist work but continued teaching and research taking early retirement from Monash in 1990 7 In retirement he returned to Indonesia with Betty teaching at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta and Andalas University in Padang West Sumatra again on local salaries 8 A lifelong Melbourne cyclist he died while pushing his bicycle across a train line near his small house in Glen Iris Melbourne Feith was 71 years old and had three children and several grandchildren Recognition and activism EditFeith was guided by a strong sense of social justice human rights and worked with international peace movements 9 In Melbourne he assisted Indonesian asylum seekers who faced persecution under the Suharto regime and was active in a range of campaigns With Amnesty International he negotiated to free political prisoners in Indonesia He practised voluntary simplicity and was renowned as an inspiring lecturer and teacher 10 11 Although relationships with some nationalist contacts became difficult he supported West Papuan independence and assisted at the violent elections in East Timor in 1999 He was a staunch defender of the right to self determination of the East Timorese people but rather than adopting a confrontational approach he would offer face saving solutions that would allow Indonesia to withdraw with dignity 12 The Herb Feith Foundation was established after his death to undertake a number of activities in the fields of education and publishing related to Indonesia and East Timor The Herb Feith Chair at Monash was established in 2007 Greg Barton was the inaugural Chair 2007 2015 and followed by Ariel Heryanto 2016 2019 In December 2016 the foundation presented a human rights education award to Indonesian poet Putu Oka Sukanta 13 The Foundation was wound up in 2018 and replaced by the Monash Herb Feith Indonesian Engagement Centre Key publications EditFeith H 1962 The Decline of Constitutional Democracy in Indonesia Ithaca Cornell University Press ISBN 0 8014 0126 7 Feith H amp L Castles 1970 Indonesian Political Thinking 1945 1965 Ithaca Cornell University Press Indonesian trans 1988 Feith H 1971 Asia s Flashpoint 1971 Bangla Desh Bedford Park S A Flinders University Mortimer R H Feith and R Tiffen eds 1984 Stubborn Survivors Dissenting Essays On Peasants And Third World Development Melbourne Centre of Southeast Asian Studies Monash University Scott D H Feith and P Walsh 1992 East Timor Towards A Just Peace in The 1990s Canberra A C T Australian Council for Overseas Aid Feith H E Baulch and P Walsh 1994 George J Aditjondro East Timor an Indonesian intellectual speaks out Deakin A C T Australian Council for Overseas Aid Feith H 1995 Soekarno militer dalam demokrasi terpimpin Jakarta Pustaka Sinar Harapan Aspinall E H Feith amp G Van Klinken eds 1999 The Last Days of President Suharto Clayton Vic Monash Asia Institute Feith H 1999 Pemilihan umum 1955 di Indonesia Jakarta Kepustakaan Populer Gramedia Biography EditPurdey J 2011 From Vienna to Yogyakarta The life of Herb Feith Sydney UNSW Press ISBN 978 1 74223 280 5 Chris Manning Harold Crouch and John Maxwell 2002 Herb Feith Bulletin of Indonesian Economic Studies 38 10 pp 39 41 Purdey J ed 2012 Knowing Indonesia Intersections of Self Discipline and Nation Clayton Vic Monash University Press References Edit Evans Rachel 28 November 2001 Herb Feith 1930 2001 Green Left Weekly Archived from the original on 1 December 2007 Retrieved 5 November 2009 Purdey Jemma From Vienna to Yogyakarta The life of Herb Feith Sydney UNSW Press 2011 Feith H 1954 Political Developments in Indonesia in the Period of the Wilopo Cabinet April 1952 June 1953 Thesis M A University of Melbourne Dept of Arts Purdey Jemma Spring 2008 Many Voices One Life Dealing with Memory and Telling in the Biography of Herb Feith PDF Journal of Historical Biography 3 56 86 Indonesian Politics 1949 1957 The decline of the representative government PhD Thesis Ithaca N Y Cornell University 1961 Herb Feith From Vienna to Yogyakarta Australian Broadcasting Corporation 13 July 2011 http arts monash edu au mai asaa jemmapurdey pdf bare URL PDF IN Memoriam Herb Feith Archived from the original on 5 March 2011 Retrieved 13 July 2011 Purdey J 2008 Morally engaged Herb Feith and the study of Indonesia Asian Studies Association of Australia conference 2008 http arts monash edu au mai asaa jemmapurdey pdf Herb Feith From Vienna to Yogyakarta Australian Broadcasting Corporation 13 July 2011 http www abc net au rn encounter stories 2003 796902 htm In Memory of Herb Feith Encounter ABC Radio National broadcast 9 March 2003 AUSTRALIA Obituary Herb Feith Indonesia Scholar Activist and Tireless Volunteer November 22 2001 Walsh Pat 20 February 2017 A drink for humanity Inside Indonesia Retrieved 14 April 2018 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Herbert Feith amp oldid 1114161567, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
