New diplomatic challenges await next government<\/p>\n
Bantarto Bandoro, Editor, The Indonesian Quarterly
\nCentre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
\nJakarta, bandoro@csis.or.id<\/p>\n
Many here are quite skeptical the general election will
\nguarantee better domestic political, economic, social and
\nsecurity conditions. Such skepticism is based mainly on the poor
\nperformance of the current regime with regard to the management
\nof national issues.<\/p>\n
Several presidential candidates have promised to bring the
\ncountry to the stage where people will see a working, new-look
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
We will not have a new government until later in October. And
\nthis new government, regardless of its political ideology, will
\ndefinitely have to face new challenges -- both domestic and
\ninternational.<\/p>\n
Political parties have touched on the issues of the economy,
\nsocial security, education, law enforcement and the eradication
\nof corruption more often than the issue of defense and foreign
\npolicy, assuming an international focus would not help them win
\nthe people's hearts. They go on selling their \"domestic
\nproducts\", without realizing public support is also important for
\nour international relations and standing.<\/p>\n
Perhaps it is time for our presidential candidates to express,
\nespecially during their campaigns, their thoughts on the future
\nof our international role. A candidates's ability to talk openly,
\nplainly and convincingly about foreign policy and other
\nIndonesian-related international affairs will help voters
\nunderstand better how important it is for Indonesia to maintain
\ninternational links, both for the sake of our economic recovery
\nand to support our new regime.<\/p>\n
It is within such a context we need to understand the massive
\ndiplomatic and other international challenges the new government
\nis about to face. The world is experiencing a transformation of
\nhuman civilization and rapidly progressing towards a new order
\nbased on shared values of democracy, human rights and liberal
\nmarket economics. All this is especially true after the invasion
\nof Iraq.<\/p>\n
With the increasing complexity of international relations and
\nthe problems we might face, it is likely our next government will
\nbe at a watershed -- it must change a great deal managing our
\ninternational relations, both from within and externally.<\/p>\n
The president-elect is likely to bring new leaders into office
\nand this could set into motion processes that bring changes in
\npolicy. These new leaders and personnel will bring with them new
\nexpectations about the country's international role and position.
\nThese new policies, if they prove useful, will have to take into
\naccount the current trends in world politics.<\/p>\n
The new regime must obviously possess legitimacy but this
\nalone is not sufficient. Support from the international community
\nto the new regime is as important as the implementation and the
\nsubstance of its new policy.<\/p>\n
Once the new cabinet is officiated, the immediate policy steps
\nit initiates must assure the international community of its
\ncommitment to principles of good governance and to continuing
\nstability and security in Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n
Our presidential election will take place at a time when our
\nmultilateralism has been strengthened and is the norm in
\ncontemporary international relations. So, in conducting
\ninternational diplomacy, our next government will have to look
\nfor every possibility offered by multilateralism to promote our
\nnew national and global interests.<\/p>\n
What must not change is our commitment to be continually part
\nof international collaboration in establishing a more secure and
\nstable global environment -- not of course at the expense of our
\nbasic national interest.<\/p>\n
This is, however, not to suggest the insignificance of
\nbilateral forums for promoting this interest. A two-pronged
\nstrategy, either through multi or bilateral mechanisms, must be
\nemployed if the next government is to secure the gains it has
\nalready obtained from being part of international diplomacy.<\/p>\n
Through such a diplomatic mechanism, the new government needs
\nto manage its foreign policy in such a way that it leads to the
\nsolution of our ongoing domestic problems as well as to major
\nchanges in our international position.<\/p>\n
The new government will have consider if its new strategies
\nproduce a balance between the nation's commitment to fill its
\ndomestic needs and the imperative to manage the country's
\ninternational relations.<\/p>\n
In the myriad of diplomatic challenges the new government will
\nhave to face, it is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that will be
\nat the forefront in managing such challenges. This office must be
\nready to readjust and, if necessary, change its outlook so as to
\nadapt to the changed domestic and international environment.<\/p>\n
There must be a consensus, however, that peace, stability and
\nprosperity at home depend largely on developments outside and we
\nmust influence those developments by mobilizing whatever
\nresources are available.<\/p>\n
New national policies are doomed to failure if they are not
\npart of an overall solution. Remedies for problems in certain
\npolicy areas, therefore, can only be sought in an international
\nframework. This is where Indonesia will face some of its biggest
\nchallenges.<\/p>\n
The writer is also a lecturer for the International Relations,
\nPost Graduate Studies Program at the School of Political and
\nSocial Sciences in the University of Indonesia, Jakarta.<\/p>",
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