'Settle domestic problems as well'
'Settle domestic problems as well'
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia, while continuing its campaign for a more equitable international system, should not neglect improving conditions at home, according to political scientist Juwono Sudarsono.
In an increasingly complex and interdependent world, the country must sort out the various predicaments it is facing, he told The Jakarta Post.
Juwono, who is deputy governor of the National Resilience Institute, said that there is an increasing linkage between domestic performance and international politics.
"While striving for international justice, we should also continuously correct the domestic situation," he said, adding that these remedies should cover a wide range of issues from politics and the economy to culture and the environment.
In the past few years, Indonesia has been persistently calling for the restructuring of a global system which has become increasingly detrimental to the developing and under-developed countries of the world, he added.
The efforts were most notable during Indonesia's chairmanship of the 113-nation Non-Aligned Movement from 1992 to 1995.
Juwono was speaking Wednesday evening after the launching of his latest book, Surviving Globalization. Indonesia and the World, which contains 27 thought provoking articles printed in The Jakarta Post between 1987 and 1995.
The articles cover a wide spectrum of issues and lend insight on many matters, both foreign and domestic.
Juwono notes that Indonesia itself is a big enough country to apply its international system within its own borders.
He points out that many of the major problems of the world, such as injustice, economic and information disparity between people, ethnic tension, the environment and human rights, can also be found within the country.
Though describing Indonesia as an "under-managed" country and that the situational advantages which have helped boost development in the last 30 years are declining, Juwono expressed confidence that the country will continue to progress.
"I think we can still pull it off. Even though we are under- qualified in many areas... we could always improvise," he said.
He also urged cooperation between the government, academia and private sectors in all fields. (mds)