Foreign policy in changing global politics Indonesia’s foreign policy and the quest for major power status in the Asian Century

• Published in: South East Asia research Vol. 25; no. 2; pp. 175 - 191
• Main Author: Rosyidin, Mohamad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications Ltd 01-06-2017; SAGE Publications; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: 21st century; Foreign policy; Geopolitics; Gravity; Hierarchies; Optimism; Policy making; Political power; Politics; Power; Presidents; Resilience; Indonesia; major power; international status; Jokowi; Asian Century; Indonesia’s foreign policy
• ISSN: 0967-828X; 2043-6874
• DOI: 10.1177/0967828X17706570

Since President Jokowi came to power in October 2014, Indonesia’s foreign policy has undergone fundamental change, most obviously in the state’s emphasis on domestic priorities rather than global engagement. Although Jokowi’s foreign policy has pursued an ‘active’ principle by participating in many international forums, it seems to have overlooked the changing contexts of the geopolitical turn. Asia has been rising and is becoming the geopolitical center of gravity in the 21st century. Yet, instead of adapting to this shift, Indonesia’s foreign policy continues to neglect the ‘Asian Century’ turn that has been taking place for years. Indonesia should have increased its international profile to enhance its status as a ‘Third Asian Giant’ beside China and India, but Jokowi’s administration has not taken such an opportunity. This article argues that Indonesia is not interested in gaining international status because of the domestically focused nature of its foreign policy. Indonesia is seen as needing to consolidate its own national resilience before asserting itself in a wider international arena. For Jokowi, national interest is defined as material—primarily economic—interest. In addition, Indonesia’s traditional status as a regional, middle level international power prevents the country from seeking any greater global status. This article argues, with optimism, that Indonesia should seek to change this traditional paradigm of middle power status. It suggests that the assertion of global status matters in Indonesia’s foreign policy because the better the country’s position in the international hierarchy of states, the easier it will be for the nation to achieve its own domestic interests.