Let sleeping bears lie: an analysis of the factors behind Indonesia’s response to the Russo–Ukrainian war and its implications for the Indo-Pacific region
This article discusses Indonesia’s pragmatic reaction to the war by adopting an equidistant foreign policy with both Russia and with Ukraine. It contends that three factors have shaped Indonesia’s response, namely Indonesian leaders’ perceptions and priorities regarding the country’s economic intere...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2023
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/171367 |
| _version_ | 1811680890513784832 |
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| author | Sebastian, Leonard C. Marzuki, Keoni |
| author2 | S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies |
| author_facet | S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Sebastian, Leonard C. Marzuki, Keoni |
| author_sort | Sebastian, Leonard C. |
| collection | NTU |
| description | This article discusses Indonesia’s pragmatic reaction to the war by adopting an equidistant foreign policy with both Russia and with Ukraine. It contends that three factors have shaped Indonesia’s response, namely Indonesian leaders’ perceptions and priorities regarding the country’s economic interests and its position as the President of the G-20; strategic ties with Russia; and bottom-up societal inclinations that favour Russia more than Ukraine. The article finds that the invasion of Ukraine affects Indonesia’s standing as the natural leader of ASEAN by undermining its cohesion and the organisation’s effectiveness and credibility for the leadership role it sought to play in the Indo-Pacific region. Furthermore, the war in Ukraine may have an impact on intensifying geopolitical rivalry in the region which may prompt the USA’s security partners in the region to fill the strategic void caused by Washington’s preoccupation with Eastern Europe contingencies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-10-01T03:32:14Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | ntu-10356/171367 |
| institution | Nanyang Technological University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-10-01T03:32:14Z |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ntu-10356/1713672023-10-26T06:45:42Z Let sleeping bears lie: an analysis of the factors behind Indonesia’s response to the Russo–Ukrainian war and its implications for the Indo-Pacific region Sebastian, Leonard C. Marzuki, Keoni S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Social sciences::Political science Russia–Ukraine War Domestic Politics This article discusses Indonesia’s pragmatic reaction to the war by adopting an equidistant foreign policy with both Russia and with Ukraine. It contends that three factors have shaped Indonesia’s response, namely Indonesian leaders’ perceptions and priorities regarding the country’s economic interests and its position as the President of the G-20; strategic ties with Russia; and bottom-up societal inclinations that favour Russia more than Ukraine. The article finds that the invasion of Ukraine affects Indonesia’s standing as the natural leader of ASEAN by undermining its cohesion and the organisation’s effectiveness and credibility for the leadership role it sought to play in the Indo-Pacific region. Furthermore, the war in Ukraine may have an impact on intensifying geopolitical rivalry in the region which may prompt the USA’s security partners in the region to fill the strategic void caused by Washington’s preoccupation with Eastern Europe contingencies. 2023-10-26T06:45:42Z 2023-10-26T06:45:42Z 2023 Journal Article Sebastian, L. C. & Marzuki, K. (2023). Let sleeping bears lie: an analysis of the factors behind Indonesia’s response to the Russo–Ukrainian war and its implications for the Indo-Pacific region. International Politics. https://dx.doi.org/10.1057/s41311-023-00478-0 1384-5748 https://hdl.handle.net/10356/171367 10.1057/s41311-023-00478-0 2-s2.0-85171658440 en International Politics © 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited. All rights reserved. |
| spellingShingle | Social sciences::Political science Russia–Ukraine War Domestic Politics Sebastian, Leonard C. Marzuki, Keoni Let sleeping bears lie: an analysis of the factors behind Indonesia’s response to the Russo–Ukrainian war and its implications for the Indo-Pacific region |
| title | Let sleeping bears lie: an analysis of the factors behind Indonesia’s response to the Russo–Ukrainian war and its implications for the Indo-Pacific region |
| title_full | Let sleeping bears lie: an analysis of the factors behind Indonesia’s response to the Russo–Ukrainian war and its implications for the Indo-Pacific region |
| title_fullStr | Let sleeping bears lie: an analysis of the factors behind Indonesia’s response to the Russo–Ukrainian war and its implications for the Indo-Pacific region |
| title_full_unstemmed | Let sleeping bears lie: an analysis of the factors behind Indonesia’s response to the Russo–Ukrainian war and its implications for the Indo-Pacific region |
| title_short | Let sleeping bears lie: an analysis of the factors behind Indonesia’s response to the Russo–Ukrainian war and its implications for the Indo-Pacific region |
| title_sort | let sleeping bears lie an analysis of the factors behind indonesia s response to the russo ukrainian war and its implications for the indo pacific region |
| topic | Social sciences::Political science Russia–Ukraine War Domestic Politics |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/171367 |
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