CSIS helps reduce regional tension
CSIS helps reduce regional tension
JAKARTA (JP): With 25 years of academic achievement under its
belt, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
has emerged into an instrument which helps promote peace and
stability in the region.
"It plays an important role regionally in helping to reduce
misunderstandings between other countries and Indonesia," British
academic Michael Leifer replied when asked to comment on the role
of CSIS in Indonesia.
He pointed out that through the years CSIS has helped promote
a cooperative process in its work.
"Other elites in other countries have come to depend on it in
a way that is useful for Indonesia," said the professor of
international relations at the London School of Economics.
"So in a essence it has a very patriotic role," he added.
Formed in 1971, the Jakarta-based think tank has emerged as
one of the most credible ones in Southeast Asia. It also
cooperates with formal government initiatives in a "two-track"
approach of regional cooperation.
Leifer was one of the many prominent academics attending the
highlight of the CSIS silver anniversary celebrations.
On Wednesday an international seminar was held on "One
Southeast Asia in a New Regional and International Setting".
In the evening a reception was held with an address by
Professor Robert A. Scalapino. At the reception, attended by over
1,000 guests, CSIS presented distinguished fellow awards to 14
academics and individuals.
The Indonesian recipients were economist Mohammad Sadli,
former Indonesian foreign minister Mochtar Kusumaatmadja,
military analyst Hasnan Habib, ambassador-at-large Hasyim Djalal,
and academic Juwono Sudarsono.
Other recipients included Scalapino, Leifer, Professor
Caroline Hernandez from the Philippines, Malaysian Noordin Sopiee
and Singaporean Lau Teik Soon.
Indonesian Abdurrahman Wahid also received a distinction for
scholarly discourse on social, cultural and developmental issues,
while G. Benson received one for his work in promoting Indonesia-
U.S. relations.
Wednesday's seminar was followed up yesterday by a workshop.
Leifer pointed out after the workshop that apart from
providing much-needed expertise to the government and the private
sector, CSIS has also established a strong regional reputation.
"It really has been an instrument for cooperative security and
it has become quite essential," he said.
Sociologist Melly G. Tan of the Indonesian Institute of
Sciences (LIPI) believes think tanks like CSIS play an important
role in the nation's development.
Apart from developing human resources, it functions as a place
to discuss society's problems.
"If you don't have these institutions where people can talk
openly about the problems that are faced by the country, then
where is the forum?" she told The Jakarta Post.
"So an institution like CSIS is a place where people exchange
ideas not only on an abstract level but definitely also with the
purpose of promoting the welfare of the country, promoting the
development of human resources," she explained.
Bantarto Bandoro of the CSIS department of international
affairs said one of the strengths of the center is its ability to
freely pursue various ideas.
"The strength is in the spirit of academic freedom," he told
the Post, adding that "we always try to be sensitive to
developments outside the center."
Looking ahead he said he would like to see CSIS produce even
better work. He expressed a hope the center would stimulate other
researchers in their work by publishing it in the center's
journals. (mds)