CSIS requires reorientation<\/p>\n
The Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
\nneeds to build a new image more oriented to the public interest,
\nsays Azyumardi Azra, rector of the Syarif Hidayatullah Institute
\nfor Islamic Studies (IAIN). He spoke to The Jakarta Post's
\ncontributorRikza Abdullah on the occasion of CSIS's 30th
\nanniversary.<\/p>\n
Question: Do you think that CSIS, as a center for policy-
\noriented studies, is still effective?<\/p>\n
Answer: Its influence on government policies was very strong
\nduring its early period of operation because its founders were
\nvery close to the power-holders. But the change of personnel in
\nthe government has meant the substantial decline of its influence
\non the direction of government policies. However, CSIS, through
\nits studies, continues to provide important contributions to
\ndecision-makers.<\/p>\n
The CSIS founders were directly or indirectly involved in the
\nestablishment of the New Order government. Can the results of
\ntheir studies remain relevant and applicable for Indonesia?<\/p>\n
Their studies on certain subjects, such as foreign affairs and
\nAsian Pacific economics are still relevant and can make valuable
\ncontributions to the country. However, the results of their
\nstudies will not influence government policies effectively
\nbecause they are no longer involved in the circle of power-
\nholders. Anyway, being independent from the center of power is
\nanother advantage for a research center.<\/p>\n
Because CSIS used to support the development-oriented New
\nOrder, won't its researchers be trapped in the developmentalist
\napproach (e.g. stressing economic growth, centralization of
\npower, business and organization) in making recommendations?<\/p>\n
It's true that substantial changes have happened in Indonesia.
\nCSIS's recommendations on economic and foreign affairs were
\ninfluential when developmentalism was dominant in the country.
\nBut recent changes, particularly on democratization, the
\npromotion of autonomy and decentralization, will probably force
\nCSIS to reorientate its approach and identify new and relevant
\nissues for their research activities if they want to sustain
\ntheir operations.<\/p>\n
How do you see the closeness of CSIS with the government under
\nthe country's new, different leadership?<\/p>\n
During the Soeharto era, CSIS was very close to the government
\nuntil the end of the 1980s. Its influence on government policies
\nstarted to decline in the 1990s when the government paid more
\nattention to recommendations from the Association of Indonesian
\nMuslim Intellectuals (ICMI), the Center for Information and
\nDevelopment Studies (Cides) and some other think-tanks. The
\ndecline of CSIS's influence continued during B.J. Habibie's one-
\nyear government (1998-1999).<\/p>\n
During the government of president Abdurrahman Wahid (November
\n1999-July 2001), who was very close to CSIS, the center held a
\ngood opportunity to play a greater role in policy-making, but it
\nfailed to grab the chance due to his controversial leadership.
\nAbdurrahman's controversial way of leading the country even
\nencouraged some CSIS researchers, such as Kusnanto Anggoro and
\nHadi Soesastro, to criticize him.<\/p>\n
Megawati Soekarnoputri's government seems to be more
\ninterested in the voices of independent researchers such as the
\nthink-tank of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan) as well as the State Secretariat.<\/p>\n
Does CSIS have any bias to any political party, business
\ngroup, religious organization or to any certain ideology?<\/p>\n
In business, CSIS is apparently inclined to support the formal
\nsector, which is dominated by conglomerates. I hardly see CSIS
\nsupporting discussion on the public economy. Discussion on the
\npublic economy is generally supported by Cides and the economist
\nMubyarto. Because most conglomerates happen to be owned by
\nChinese Indonesians, CSIS seems to, whether intentionally or
\nunintentionally, support Chinese-owned businesses. And because
\nowners of formal businesses collaborated with the government
\nduring the Soeharto era, there appeared a perception that CSIS
\nwas closer to the government than the people.<\/p>\n
In its early days, some intellectuals suspected the research
\ninstitution to be inclined toward Christianity but since the
\n1990s it has apparently become more cautious on religious issues
\nand tried to assert its independence. Its closeness to
\nAbdurrahman Wahid was not based on religious considerations but
\nbecause he was championed for supporting minorities.<\/p>\n
In its ideology, CSIS personnel seem to follow secularism and
\nhumanism.<\/p>\n
Do you see the advantages of CSIS as compared to other think-
\ntanks?<\/p>\n
One of its advantages over the others is that it hires full-
\ntime researchers with adequate credentials. As a result, the
\ninstitution is able not only to carry out its functions very well
\nbut also to publish academically. Its researchers also gain wider
\npublication by the press because they are always available for
\ncomment on emerging issues. In comparison, other institutions
\nthat claim to be think-tanks generally hire researchers who only
\nmoonlight for them.<\/p>\n
You said CSIS needs to reorientate itself in order to face
\nfuture developments. Could you elaborate on that?<\/p>\n
CSIS executives and researchers must build a new image to show
\nthat they are really independent, non-partisan and support the
\npublic interest. Then they must identify and discuss big issues
\nthat are now up for public debate -- such as how Indonesia can
\nrecover from the economic crisis and how to rebuild national
\nintegration.<\/p>\n
Do you think CSIS, with its current human recourses, is able
\nto do that?<\/p>\n
The problems faced by the nation are so big and span such a
\nwide variety that CSIS, based on the strengths of its personnel,
\nseems to have to select certain issues for coverage in their
\nstudies. CSIS can face future challenges because it has a
\ncollective intellectual leadership.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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