It is a member of the G20 and a massive presence in other global fora such as the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). Indonesia is the chair of ASEAN and the East Asia Summit (EAS) this year and will chair APEC in 2013.
Indonesian influence could be an overwhelmingly positive input as the world defines new frameworks and architecture. The World Bank is restructuring the relative representation of countries, taking into account the new role of states like Indonesia, Brazil, China and India; the United Nations is moving in the same direction. The EAS and ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus represent ASEAN-based nascent regional security architecture. These changes are investments in enhancing global stability, peace and prosperity.
However, to be effective globally, Indonesia must strengthen its institutions at home and provide real leadership in its immediate neighborhood — in ASEAN. Neither of these challenges have been fully met.
President Yudhoyono confidently hailed democracy, human rights and eliminating corruption as key pillars for Indonesian influence. The truth is that Indonesia is generally moving in the right direction on these issues, but stronger leadership at home is needed to institutionalise and practically implement these fundamental Indonesian values. In terms of economic dynamism, Indonesia has an incredible opportunity to lead. But though it is ASEAN’s largest economy, it has not been a leader on trade, and it has a myriad of microeconomic challenges that limit its vast potential as a hub for foreign direct investors seeking an anchor venue in the 10 country, 620 million people, $1.8 trillion gross domestic Southeast Asian market.
Indonesia’s global impact will only be effective if it can lead within Southeast Asia. As the chair of ASEAN for 2011, Indonesia faces the challenge to build on the strong and proactive leadership of Vietnam in 2010. ASEAN’s viability depends on its effective progress in achieving its leaders’ goals of economic, political and cultural integration by 2015. Specifically, ASEAN must advance economic integration by moving beyond tariff reductions in the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) to enforcing the reduction of nontariff barriers; implementing guidelines laid out in the ASEAN Investment Area (AIA) and liberalising services and movement of people; and building regional infrastructure.
Politically, ASEAN’s biggest challenge is encouraging Burma (Myanmar) to create political space. Doing so means changing the paradigm on the principle of ‘nonintervention’ in other members’ internal affairs. No ASEAN member but Indonesia could appropriately champion the case for welcoming Timor Leste (East Timor).
Finally, on cultural integration, Indonesia can lead by example as the region’s largest country and reach out to its neighbours. Recent trends indicate increasing nationalist sentiment among ASEAN countries, including Indonesia. Leadership is required to change the tone and direction toward a unified identity for the region.
The vision for global Indonesian influence that President Yudhoyono eloquently shared in Davos is most welcome and should be actively encouraged. However, strong leadership at home and in the ASEAN neighbourhood is a necessary condition for realising Indonesia’s broader goals.
Ernest Z. Bower is a senior adviser and Director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC.
Following a successful lobbying campaign by South Africa, BRIC has now become BRICS. The group acquired a new member without having to shed any existing members, such as Russia, a UNSC permanent member and nuclear weapons power and the largest country in the world, which Mr Bower claims is less well-qualified for membership than Indonesia. Given that Indonesia, as Mr Bower points out, already belongs to the G20,ASEAN, the EAS, OIC and NAM, it is hard to see what exactly it would gain by joining BRICS except some additional prestige. But, if there are some advantages to be had, maybe Indonesia should start lobbying existing BRICS members.