M. C. Ricklefs

Who is M. C. Ricklefs?

Merle Calvin Ricklefs is a scholar of the history and current affairs of Indonesia. He received his Ph.D. from Cornell University under the supervision of O. W. Wolters. He has taught at School of Oriental and African Studies, All Souls College, Monash University, Australian National University and University of Melbourne. Ricklefs recently retired from the Professorship of Southeast Asian history at the National University of Singapore.

His publications have focused on the history of Mataram, Kartasura, Yogyakarta, Surakarta, locations in Central Java. He has also regularly updated his history of Indonesia - A History of Modern Indonesia, ca. 1300 to the present. Few other living English speaking writers can claim the scope of his knowledge of the history of Java from the 17th to the 20th century.

The Government of Australia awarded him in 2001 the Centenary Medal for service to Australian society and the humanities in the study of Indonesia.