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Nationalism, not economics, behind Jokowi’s anti-import rhetoric, analysts say
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has deployed nationalist rhetoric on a number of different issues in recent weeks, sparking a debate over the motivations for the tone shift.
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President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo inspects progress on a toll road that will lead to the new capital city of Nusantara in East Kalimantan on Feb. 22. (Presidential Secretariat's Press Bureau/Laily Rachev)
P
resident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has deployed nationalist rhetoric on a variety of issues in recent weeks, and while many of his arguments are couched in the language of economics, observers say the motivations behind the shift in tone may be more complex than financial prudence alone.
Having governed the nation for more than eight years, Jokowi has established a distinct brand of developmental economics rooted in a drive for international competitiveness and added-value industries.
The government has focused on equitable development, poverty eradication and infrastructure projects as the three pillars of “Jokowinomics”.
But the businessman-turned-politician has recently been supplementing this long-held policy with more than a dash of “Indonesia first” rhetoric, with healthcare, banking, transportation and the garment industry all in his crosshairs.
On March 6, he lamented that nearly 2 million Indonesians sought medical treatment abroad annually, which he claimed cost the state some Rp 165 trillion (US$10.7 million) per year. The spotlight comes as his administration seeks public support for a legislative overhaul of the health sector, which faces resistance from medical professionals.
Last week, at an event to promote the use of domestic products and services, the President called on regional governments nationwide to wean themselves off global, United States-centered payment networks like Mastercard and Visa in favor of credit cards issued by domestic banks.
Jokowi cited the sanctions imposed on Russia by the US as the reason Indonesia needed to develop greater independence in processing financial transactions.
