TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Emerging RI uses mediation, peace
New piece: Amitav Acharya, professor of international relations at the American University, Washington, DC, USA (left) presents his book, Indonesia Matters: Asiaâs Emerging Democratic Power, to Deputy Foreign Minister Dino Patti Djalal during the bookâs launch at the foreign ministry on Wednesday
Change Size
N
span class="inline inline-center">New piece: Amitav Acharya, professor of international relations at the American University, Washington, DC, USA (left) presents his book, Indonesia Matters: Asia's Emerging Democratic Power, to Deputy Foreign Minister Dino Patti Djalal during the book's launch at the foreign ministry on Wednesday. JP/Don
Indonesia was poised to be an emerging world power thanks to its mediatory, peaceful approach toward foreign policy issues, an academic said on Wednesday.
Author and professor of international affairs at the American University in Washington DC, Amitav Acharya, cited Indonesia's recent presidential election, which he described as an excellent example of world democracy and praised the nation's role as a mediator in regional affairs, such as issues involving maritime security in the South China Sea.
He said that the Indonesian story suggested a different pathway to emerging power status.
'The pathway is based not so much on military or economic sources, but is on developing a positive, virtuous correlation [through] democracy, stability and development while pursuing a foreign policy of restraint towards neighbors and an active engagement with the world at large,' he said during the launch of his latest book, Indonesia Matters: Asia's Emerging Democratic Power.
During the launch at the Foreign Ministry, Acharya's latest work was discussed by a panel of speakers consisting of Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) researcher Phillips J. Vermonte, Deputy Foreign Minister Dino Patti Djalal and The Jakarta Post chief editor Meidyatama Suryodiningrat, all of whom praised the book's message.
Also attending the event were several foreign ambassadors, a number of international relations students and staff of the Foreign Ministry.
Acharya noted that in the midst of current major world conflicts such as the Gaza war and Ukraine insurgency, the story of Indonesia's remarkable display of democratic process and commitment to mediation made up for what he deemed a 'very depressing time in international affairs'.
Vermonte commented that the book was interesting because it tried to define Indonesia's successes as a democracy through the context of foreign policy.
Despite claiming that he 'feels good' when reading about Indonesia's foreign policy achievements, Vermonte also questioned whether the praise given to Indonesia in the book was tangible or visibly affected its political stature in the world or its economic growth.
Meanwhile, Meidyatama commented that Acharya's book was 'thought provoking' as it raised questions on how Indonesia mattered as a soft power and a player of democracy as well as noting the elaboration on why the Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono presidency was deemed very successful in its foreign policy approach.
'It is required reading material for Indonesian foreign policy students, diplomats going into foreign service and those going to be posted in Indonesia ['¦] as it explains, and also questions, what Indonesia stands for and how issues such as human rights, democracy and maritime security could be discussed in the future,' he said.
The book is expected to be in stores this week.
Vermonte added that usually a country became a power through wealth accumulation or military might. 'Indonesia has proven diplomatically that it has become some kind of positive force in the world, with the participation in institutions such as the G20, APEC and ASEAN, without the reliance of both,' he told the Post.
'If we look at it through a political perspective, Indonesia is seen as a success. But from a critical point of view, we must ask whether Indonesia's efforts on democracy have translated into anything tangible, such as rising investment numbers or sustainable economic growth that is not based on domestic consumption. Has the 'emerging power' tag yielded tangible results?' the researcher asked.
Acharya has written many books and articles on foreign policy, especially on the topic of ASEAN and Southeast Asian foreign policy.
His published works include Constructing a Security Community in Southeast Asia (2009) and Rethinking Power: Institutions and Ideas in World Politics (2013). (dyl)
