CSIS at 30

Today, the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), one of Indonesia's oldest and most prominent private research institutions, marks its 30th anniversary.

While many other think tanks elsewhere in the world may boast a longer history or more spectacular achievements, even to have reached the age of 30 for a research institute in Indonesia can appropriately be said to be an accomplishment of which CSIS can justly be proud.

Throughout those years, and especially in its later years after the fall of the New Order regime under former president Soeharto, CSIS, having been born and nurtured during that period of Indonesian history, has had to brave waves of misunderstanding and suspicion. Occasionally, too, it has been a target of political agitation.

Nevertheless, CSIS has managed to survive and has lately even been showing signs of growing vigor, as expressed in various forms, such as the holding of seminars and discussions on current topics. The fact that young and capable researchers are beginning to emerge from among its ranks is proof that the process of regeneration, so important in assuring growth, is taking place.

Recent exhibitions of paintings and other works of art held by CSIS provide an indication that the institute is widening its scope of interest to include aspects of culture besides politics and economics. In the context of the current apparent lack of interest among officialdom and the public alike for the more spiritual-emotional aspects of life, this is certainly something to be grateful for.

Yet, two traditional areas of interest seem to continue to dominate CSIS's intellectual activities -- foreign policy and economics. It is in these two fields that CSIS has always distinguished itself from other research institutes, and while most other institutes still lack enough capability and capacity in these areas even today, many CSIS experts enjoy an international reputation and are acknowledged by the world's most prestigious institutions of research and higher education.

CSIS's prominence is recognized, especially in the field of foreign policy, not only because of its historic relations with a number of large foreign countries, but also, and not least, because of the trust it enjoys among foreign research institutions and foreign governments.

Incidentally, herein lies one of the greatest weaknesses of Indonesian governments. Indonesia has never taken the trouble to develop strong lobbies with international institutions and governments, and has relied mostly on contacts made by foreign ministry and embassy officials, with the result that policy stands often appear inconsistent or incoherent.

This is where CSIS can be of assistance to the Indonesian government by acting as a lobbyist, using the good relations that already exist between CSIS experts and the foreign governments in question. We owe CSIS something for filling this lobbying gap. In the meantime the government is well advised to start taking the development of lobbies seriously.