Approaches to Indonesia's Foreign Policy: Area Studies, FPA Theory, and Global IR

Abstract

This article traces the evolution of Indonesia's foreign policy studies, highlighting the major theoretical and methodological trends that have shaped their current form. As a starting point, we introduce a discourse on non-Western Foreign Policy Analysis (FPA), having developed beyond the dominance of the Western-rooted International Relations (IR) discipline. The authors encounter that Indonesia's foreign policy studies evolve through two stages. The first stage occurred during the Cold War until the early 2000s. It demonstrated a scholarship development characterized by an attempt to promote a national-focused or area studies perspective, despite the influence of realism and positivism. The second stage, visible since the mid-2000s, shows the advancement of diverse theory-driven inquiries, having been moved by the younger generation of scholars more exposed to various theories and research methods in IR. Dealing with these two phases of the studies will likely build Indonesia's foreign policy studies' inclusive, critical, and unique identity. It can be realized by adopting and contextualizing approaches offered by state transformation theory, critical realism, and reflexive theorizing in IR to unpack the relatively overlooked aspects of Indonesia's foreign policy.

Enhancing Global IR Knowledge Production in Southeast Asia Through Quality Publications

“…The second article written by I Gede Wahyu Wicaksana and Moch Faisal Karim, titled "Approaches to Indonesia's Foreign Policy: Area Studies, FPA Theory, and Global IR", examines the evolution of Indonesia's foreign policy studies, highlighting the major theoretical and methodological trends that have shaped their current form. Wicaksana and Karim (2022) show that Indonesian scholars focusing on foreign policy analysis (FPA) has engaged in more diverse theory-driven inquiries. Many recent studies on Indonesia's foreign policy engage in role theory (Karim, 2021) and family state (Wicaksana, 2019).…”

Indonesia’s Strategic Narrative on the New Dynamics of Great Power Rivalry in the Indo-Pacific

“…The study of strategic narratives is a useful approach for examining the function of stories generated by Indonesia to characterize their foreign policy aims and actions in international relations. On the world stage, these narratives are utilized to portray Indonesia's unique identity, interests, values, priorities, and ambitions (Wicaksana & Karim, 2022). Highlighting the significance of strategic narrative as an approach does not imply that material interests and capabilities in the Indo-Pacific as neglectable.…”