Part 1 of 2: Revisiting our foreign policy

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Jakarta

Some 57 years ago, in 1948, Vice-President Mohammad Hatta made a speech titled Mendayung di antara dua karang or rowing between two reefs. The reefs that Vice President Hatta referred to in his historic speech were, the growing antagonism between two opposing Eastern Communist and Western Capitalist Blocks.

Vice-President Hatta argued strongly that, Indonesia must avoid choosing sides between the two blocks. Vice President Hatta was not advocating a policy of neutrality, but he passionately reasoned, that Indonesia must strive to be a "subject, not an object" in international affairs, where we determine our own path.

This thinking was then coined as "independent and active foreign policy", and it became one of Hatta's most important legacies.

What I find striking, is that in the past five decades or so, this basic policy has shown a remarkable degree of resilience and adaptability.

The questions have to be asked: What are the elements of an independent and active foreign policy? And what does it mean to be independent and active today, 57 years after Muhammad Hatta made his famous speech?

We need to ask these questions, because the world we live in today is radically different, than the one faced by our forefathers.

In fact, whereas Vice-President Hatta in 1948 used the metaphor "rowing between two reefs", today, as we have safely passed the two reefs, I would use the metaphor "navigating a turbulent ocean" to describe the challenge faced by Indonesia's foreign policy.

My purpose is, to go deeper into the concept of independent and active foreign policy, which has served us so well since the beginning of our Republic, and to sketch how it can better serve Indonesia's national interests in the coming years.

It is not an attempt to rewrite the book, but simply to add more pages to it.

So what are the conceptual properties of independent and active foreign policy?

It entails "independence of judgment" and "freedom of action". But I would also add the necessity of a constructive approach in the conduct of foreign policy.

Being independent-minded and having freedom of action, is indeed critical. But there is no use having an independent mind and freedom of action, if we end-up making the wrong turns or become marginalized. And there is no sense for us to be different, just for the sake of being different, or to be active just for its own sake. Our independence and activism must therefore, be combined with a constructive mindset, so that we can attain our national objectives.

A constructive approach may mean many things. It denotes an ability to turn adversary into friend, and to turn friend into partner. It means having the diplomatic, intellectual and emotional capacity, to respond to complex foreign policy issues.

It also means putting to rest a siege mentality, wild conspiracy theories, excessive suspicion, an overly defensive attitude, or the fear that the world is out to get us.

In short, constructivism helps us to use our independence and activism to be a peace-maker, confidence-builder, problem-solver, bridge-builder.

This way, our independent and active policy becomes relevant -- relevant to our national interests, relevant to our people, relevant to the international community.

Secondly, independent and active means that we will NOT enter into any military alliances. This also means that we will continue our policy of not allowing any foreign military bases on Indonesian territory. Indonesia does not have a country which we consider a threat or an enemy.

It is also imperative for Indonesia to develop a strategic posture, that is non-threatening to its neighbors and to the region.

Third, an independent and active foreign policy is all about connectivity.

Our ability to connect with the wider world is critical, to the performance of our independent and active foreign policy. Our connectivity determines our influence and capacity, to shape the international order.

Connectivity is a source of diplomatic empowerment. Connectivity serves our independent and active policy in many ways.

It compels Indonesia to have an active and healthy engagement with its neighbors, with the major powers and emerging powers, with the regions of the world, and with international institutions and a whole range of non-state actors.

It calls on us, to find ways to plug into the globalized world. It obliges us, to closely tune-in to regional and international issues which affect us. And it necessitates us, to link-up with an array of international actors, including business actors, NGOs and individuals.

It must be remembered, however, that in the very complex world of today, it is impossible to be connected to everything, and to be engaged with every international issue. We must develop the right kind and the right degree of connectivity, one that is consistent with our national objectives, and with our resources.

Fourth, "independent and active" should project Indonesia's international identity.

We Indonesians always talk proudly about our national identity, but do not forget that there is also such a thing as "international identity" how we project ourselves to the outside world, and how we are perceived by the international community.

International identity defines a country's role, place and standing in the world community. We should be a country that has a solid national identity, but also a strong international identity. Our international identity must be rooted in a strong sense of who we are. We cannot be all things to all people. We must know who we are and what we believe in, and project them in our foreign policy.

The bottom line is this. We are a proud nation who cherish our independence and national unity. We are the fourth most populous nation in the world. We are home to the world's largest Muslim population. We are the world's third largest democracy. We are also a country where democracy, Islam and modernity go hand-in- hand. We will stay our course with ASEAN as the cornerstone of our foreign policy. And our heart is always with the developing world, to which we belong.

These are the things that define who we are, and what we do in community of nations.

Fifth, independent and active foreign policy should reflect our true brand of nationalism. Nationalism is of course on the rise in Indonesia, a trend that we also see in many other countries. But our nationalism is not an angry or arrogant one. We do not subscribe to narrow nationalism, ultra nationalism, or self-absorbed nationalism. We do not overestimate ourselves, and nor do we underestimate others. We treat big, medium and small- sized powers with equal respect.

The article is based on President Susilo's written speech for the Indonesian Council on World Affairs (ICWA) in Jakarta on May 19.