March 10, p. 3
Last week, I left Wilton Park, West Sussex, England, with mixed feelings after attending an international conference on Indonesia there. The conference, well attended by prominent Indonesians and friends from over the world, discussed recent political and economic developments in Indonesia and how the country, due to the relative domestic successes, could play a role as a global actor.
The theme reminded me of the debate within Indonesia on the same subject a few years ago. There are those who maintained that Indonesia should not play a global role. Indonesia, according to this view, was still fraught with domestic problems. Therefore, it should concentrate on addressing those problems and put its house in order first before embarking on any global role in international
affairs.
The debate at the Wilton Park conference, however, was different. Whether Indonesia should play a global role is no longer a matter of choice for Indonesia. Given its membership of the G20, and its recent involvement in addressing issues of global concern, such as climate change and energy security, Indonesia is already there. What Indonesia should think about is how it could play its global role in a meaningful and effective way, for the benefit of both Indonesia and others. (By Rizal Sukma, Jakarta)
Your comments:
We have many problems to be solved domestically. But Indonesia must play a large global role because we need global participation in accelerating our development. We must increase global awareness about how valuable Indonesia is in the global economic system.
We must also assure the global market about how strong the Indonesia market is to invest their
money here. It’s expected to recover and establish progressive development in Indonesia. “Total diplomacy” concept is suitable within this moment. When all states and powers gathered to utter the power of Indonesia, it is the time when all parts of Indonesia become a unity as a whole Indonesia.
Wisnu Prabowo
Jakarta
US power as a global actor is strong even after its economic downturn. Indonesia needs to take this into consideration. For instance, the US economy today is worth US$14.3 trillion or three times more than Japan, the second largest economy and slightly less than the economies of Japan, China, Germany and France combined.
Its per capita income is $47,000, followed by France and Germany (both $44,000 range) and Japan ($38,000). Meanwhile, China a only is $2,900 and India is ($1000).
In 2008, the US spent $607 billion on military, almost half of the world’s military spending. The US Navy commanded a naval tonnage exceeding the world’s next 17 fleets combined. Out of the world’s top 50 universities, all but three are
American.
I am not supportive of Pax-Americanism, but we have to be realistic of the global political, economic and military constellations. Yes, there is a dynamic and robust economic growth in Asia (China, India and Indonesia) as a new powerhouse. Further more, there is also what it called “US imperial over-stretch”, but
the US still has an important role in the global arena, including diplomacy based upon the aforementioned figures.
Langlang Buwana
Middlesex, UK
The comment lacks consistency of logic. It claims that a non-aligned foreign policy would be wise for Indonesia, then immediately contradicts by saying that Indonesia best falls in line with the rise of China and the shift of world power to Asia. So which is it?
Second, though a redistribution of world power is underway — especially economically — Pax Americana is alive and well both economically and militarily. The comment assumes that US influence is in inevitable decline, and implies the decline is happening inexorably. It may be so by the middle or latter part of the century, but it would be fool hearty for Indonesia to simply turn its foreign policy away from closer ties to the US China’s wealth is still tied to the health of the US economy, and with that and many other factors in mind, it would best that Indonesia choose a balanced relationship between both east and west.
And what about the Middle East, India, and Europe? China exerts less influence there than the US. The 2008-09 economic crisis was a worldwide phenomenon, and underscored the necessity that all nations work together for the global common good. Pitting Asia against Pax Americana presents a false choice for Indonesia. Don’t bet the Indonesians will take such bait.
John Merah
Mexico
Playing a big role in global issues should not wait until we have domestic stability. Flashing back to our former first president role of Sukarno, we play a big role in global
issues.
We had many great diplomats. We hosted an important international conference, the “Non-aligned Movement” in Bandung, even though our domestic stability, politically and economically was not its best. Nowadays I believe we can play a stronger role in international affairs.
Zainal abidin
Jakarta
