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Mearsheimer’s presence signals Prabowo’s realist foreign policy approach
Mearsheimer’s theory, which emphasizes the need for states to maximize power to ensure survival in an international system, aligns well with Prabowo’s worldview.
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President-elect Prabowo Subianto (sitting, center left) and vice president-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka (sitting, center right) pose with cabinet minister candidates during a briefing at Prabowo’s residence in Hambalang, Bogor regency, West Java, on Oct. 16. (AFP/Handout/Gerindra Party)
B
efore assuming office, President Prabowo Subianto gathered figures who have now been confirmed as ministers, deputy ministers and heads of state institutions for an orientation program at his mansion in Hambalang, Bogor, West Java.
Although the specifics of the discussions remain undisclosed, it was revealed that one of the key speakers invited to address the gathering was John Mearsheimer, a renowned United States political scientist and leading proponent of Offensive Realism in international relations.
Mearsheimer is an intriguing choice for the cabinet prep talk as he is famous for asserting that power is the true currency in global politics. Mearsheimer’s Offensive Realism theory posits that in an anarchic international system, states must prioritize power and security above all else.
As Prabowo’s cabinet has been formed, the presence of Mearsheimer strongly hints at the direction Indonesia’s foreign policy might take over the next five years. Mearsheimer’s involvement is telling, with strong signals of a potential shift toward a more assertive and power-centric approach in Indonesia’s engagement with the world.
During the presidency of Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, Indonesia’s foreign policy often took a back seat. Early in his term, Jokowi declared Indonesia a middle power, but this role remained underdeveloped. Jokowi missed seven consecutive United Nations General Assembly sessions, and skipped the latest ASEAN Summit in Vientiane.
Under Prabowo, observers expect Indonesia to redefine its position on the global stage, as his interest in foreign policy is more pronounced than that of his predecessor. Former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has also confidently asserted in a recent X post that Prabowo will be a “foreign policy president” and that he is “on the right track”.
Backing up these claims, Prabowo has visited more than 20 countries in the past six months as defense minister, meeting with state leaders from, among other countries, China, Japan, Australia, France, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia. This makes him the first Indonesian president-elect to have conducted such an extensive overseas tour before even taking office.
