Since he came into power within 2014, President Joko Widodo, widely known since Jokowi, has been a chief focused on internal affairs rather than Indonesia’s function in the international neighborhood. As of 2022, the particular president has remarkably been absent 8 times at the UN General Assembly, delivering remarks online rather than attending high-level negotiations in person.
The leader has had his hands full domestically, when he has sought to improve gains on expenditure, tourism and the speed of digital alteration within the public plus private sector. Additionally, his push to downstream industries, trimming through bureaucratic bureaucracy through deregulation and a call to buy Indonesian-made products will surely characterise his administration’s heritage.
Now, Indonesia’s foreign policy chops will be put to the test since it takes up the layer of ASEAN chair. The country will have to grapple with a string of human rights issues, economic downturn and politics instability within Southeast Asia. Indonesia’s dimension, geography and human population of 275 million people gives this inherent influence inside the region.
As Southeast Asia’s largest economic climate, Indonesia has the ability to use its specialist to shift the particular trajectory of the bloc’s role to take firm action in dreadful times to advance individual rights and great governance across the region.
Indonesia has already shown promise in this regard. The country made a relatively successful tv show of resolve in organising the G20 within November 2022 – and having the Bali Leader’s Declaration approved, with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in attendance.
The Bali Leader’s Declaration solidified the particular commitment of G20 members in condemning the war in Ukraine, pushing with regard to economic recovery plus facing the climate crisis.
Turning to domestic affairs, Indonesia’s values and policy shifts are capable of reorienting dynamics in Southeast Asia and act as a benchmark for its neighbours, for much better or worse. For instance, Jokowi’s acknowledgment associated with Indonesia’s past human rights violations is really a breath of fresh air as he has relocated to take accountability and provide pathways to restore the rights of sufferers.
Having taken the helm of the ASEAN chair, Indonesia’s influence is currently formalised, with its neighbours waiting at the wings for actionable measures.
Historically, Indonesia’s part within ASEAN will be traced back to the bloc’s inception where – alongside Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore plus Thailand – the nation signed the ASEAN Declaration in August 1967. With the guarantee of peace, economic growth and ethnic exchange, ASEAN has become the meeting point pertaining to discussion and wedding among Southeast Oriental nations. Its balance has relied upon its ingrained politics culture of non-interference in domestic affairs, which has been validated with the ASEAN Charter.
But ASEAN’s strength is extremely much a double-edged sword. Although it may have developed institutional support beams that are thematically appropriate (political-security, economy plus socio-cultural affairs), they have failed to swiftly respond in regards to crucial issues such as the Rohingya problems, Myanmar’s military junta, or even former Chief executive Duterte’s harsh stances on drugs that has stemmed little in order to no controversy within Southeast Asia. Peaceful diplomacy and consensus has defined “The ASEAN Way” on the expense of meaningful change.
ASEAN in itself is a different breed altogether as far as regional communities are concerned. Unlike the G20 which is composed of the world’s biggest economies or the European Union that is united through a homogenous stream associated with shared culture, beliefs, currency and politics structures, ASEAN hits a more diverse firmness. Hence, Indonesia will be tasked in making sure its chairmanship can set clear assignments such as developing stronger mechanisms in condemning human rights abuses and delivering around the vision of a more impactful ASEAN Economic Community that can realize the end goal associated with economic intergration.
This should not daunt Indonesia but rather serve as the country’s Spring Awakening in its foreign policy. Time and again Indonesia has benefited by means of its foreign plan maxim of bebas aktif (free and active) that will cements the country being a nation eager to dicker, deal and build relationships anyone. However , this particular same mindset endangers Indonesia of dropping respect on the worldwide stage – just gaining a chair on the table because of its size, not necessarily because of its concepts. This is a missed opportunity considering that Indonesia’s five guiding principles known as the Pancasila claim humanity, social proper rights and democracy, that ought to give Indonesia an opportunity to exert soft power.
Redirecting The particular ASEAN Way
In setting the sculpt for the future, ASEAN should not only navigate beneath the big tent of economic growth, but as a platform to reply to issues that can otherwise threaten human being rights, good governance and environmental sustainability even if not all associates are in total contract. Indonesia’s leadership need to welcome an avenue with regard to members to accept to disagree and move forward.
In the end, Indonesia serves as the ideal example of how a variety of views will find stability and success in the face of differences. Indeed, the country’s vast archipelago is flourishing amongst the diversity associated with culture, languages plus local customs.
Furthermore, human rights must become a norm fought for within the area. Indonesia must be capable of call on ASEAN associates to strengthen democratic values and make use of its chairmanship to improve pressure on Myanmar’s military junta plus must act quickly to monitor humanitarian aid for your Rohingya people.
In case Indonesia can condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine during the G20 summit, after that Indonesia must participate in diplomacy with its allies to forge a path forward to restore Myanmar’s democracy. In addition to this, Indonesia needs to reinforce the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission Human Rights (AICHR) and allow the AICHR to maneuver past the ASEAN Human being Rights Declaration plus develop a framework where accountability for human being rights violations could be at the very least investigated.
Finally, the particular ASEAN Economic Neighborhood (AEC) has served as a shining trumpet without a tune. Philippines needs to utilise the economic force and strength to ensure that connectivity throughout the AEC can be realised.
Indonesia should strengthen the way of the AEC in order to bolster regional expenditure, break down regulatory boundaries to increase mobility in jobs as well as produce the AEC as a pedestal to accelerate the next generation of leaders who want to develop businesses that are human being rights-based, sustainable plus green. The AEC can actually become the centrepiece that can take ASEAN to the next level plus Indonesia is best positioned to lead this cause.
Non-interference any thing, but complacency in the face of crisis is another. This year will be a harmful one, especially given that ASEAN faces polls in Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Indian that could influence Southeast Asia’s dynamics. In light of political balance, economic challenges and also a more competitive global community, ASEAN is in urgent need of rehabilitation and Indonesia’s role as ASEAN chair is not merely an opportunity to accelerate change but is a battle for the region’s upcoming relevance.
Raafi Seiff is a policy researcher and director at Policy+, an emerging believe tank which seeks to promote good governance and human rights.
