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Indonesia: Punching below its weightIndonesia: Punching below its weight
About the author
Stephanie Dunstan
Stephanie Dunstan is Head of Communications at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney.
In a new Lowy Institute Analysis paper launched today, Dr Dave McRae argues that Indonesia is unlikely to become a significantly more influential international actor in the medium term, despite its size, strategic location and economic potential.
Titled More Talk than Walk: Indonesia as a Foreign Policy Actor, McRae identifies four features that will define Indonesia's foreign policy: it will project the image of a great power despite its middle power abilities; it will remain non-aligned but lean towards the US; ASEAN will continue to be a key platform for Indonesia's regional and international aspirations; and it will take up Muslim concerns rather than having a distinctly Islamic foreign policy.
Despite rising tensions between Australia and Indonesia, McRae says it is unlikely Indonesia's relationship with Australia will become a key feature of Indonesian foreign policy in coming years. 'Outside of periodic bilateral spats, Australia can appear invisible in Indonesia's foreign policy discussions', said McRae.
Photo by Flickr user adiputraryan.
Stephanie Dunstan