End of Cold War links politics with economics

End of Cold War links politics with economics

JAKARTA (JP): The end of the Cold War in 1991 has changed the
basic thinking, calculations, international relationships and
diplomacy, a political scientist stated.

Dr. Jowono Sudarsono, former dean of the School of Social and
Political Sciences of the University of Indonesia, said in
Bandung over the weekend that the Cold War had been dominated by
the rivalry between Moscow and Washington -- with their
respective allies. The heated political climate placed everyone
under the threat of war.

Speaking at a one-day seminar sponsored by alumni of the Air
Force Command and Staff College, Juwono said that since the
collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 the world's attention has
been mainly focused on economic problems.

"Now we see economic rivalries between industrialized nations,
between advanced and developing countries and between the
developing countries themselves," he said as quoted by Antara.

The political science professor said that studying
international problems today involves examination of political,
economic and strategic fields.

Juwono added that politics and strategy have always played an
important role. He said that all economic and business activities
are inseparable from national stability, politics and security.

According to Juwono, political development and strategic
issues have become fundamental elements for multi-national
companies when deciding on investment policies.

Population and security have also become important elements in
making production, marketing and financing decisions, he said.

Juwono said that Indonesia needs to continuously study ways to
connect economic development planning with international
relations.

"This connection is important now that economic development
planning and national resilience is inseparable from the outside
world," Juwono said. (tis)