During the New Order era itself, comparisons were made with the previous period. The New Order regime dubbed its predecessor the “Old Order”.

In some other countries, the symptoms come now and then, for example when the election builds itself into a crossing point of two contrasting political views that will determine the nation's future.

In Robison’s view, what was meant by subordination of the (private) business sector to the state was that the New Order tended to render the private sector dependent on the state.