15 October 2021
- RSIS
- Publication
- External Publications
- Indonesia’s Humanitarian Engagements: Perspectives, Limitations and Prospects
Indonesia’s Humanitarian Engagements: Perspectives, Limitations and Prospects
Abstract
In the past two decades, Indonesia has been playing a more active role in humanitarian affairs, despite preoccupation with natural disasters and political hurdles at home. This paper highlights that in performing these roles, the Indonesian government ties its humanitarian actions to its national interest and foreign policy goals. This tendency is demonstrated in the country’s humanitarian foci, which are largely linked to its ambitions to demonstrate leadership in resolving crises in ASEAN; as well in Muslim communities. As such, the Indonesian government’s contributions are more pronounced in cases which promote Indonesia’s leadership regionally and globally, such as in the Rohingya crisis and Palestine issue. On top of this, the paper also discusses Indonesia’s contribution to the United Nations Peacekeeping missions. Although peacekeeping is usually separated from humanitarian actions due to its political nature, in the case of Indonesia, the two are deeply interlinked. Lastly, this paper also explores the perspectives and contributions of various state and non-state institutions involved in the engagements, including the Indonesian Military and non-governmental organizations.
Abstract
In the past two decades, Indonesia has been playing a more active role in humanitarian affairs, despite preoccupation with natural disasters and political hurdles at home. This paper highlights that in performing these roles, the Indonesian government ties its humanitarian actions to its national interest and foreign policy goals. This tendency is demonstrated in the country’s humanitarian foci, which are largely linked to its ambitions to demonstrate leadership in resolving crises in ASEAN; as well in Muslim communities. As such, the Indonesian government’s contributions are more pronounced in cases which promote Indonesia’s leadership regionally and globally, such as in the Rohingya crisis and Palestine issue. On top of this, the paper also discusses Indonesia’s contribution to the United Nations Peacekeeping missions. Although peacekeeping is usually separated from humanitarian actions due to its political nature, in the case of Indonesia, the two are deeply interlinked. Lastly, this paper also explores the perspectives and contributions of various state and non-state institutions involved in the engagements, including the Indonesian Military and non-governmental organizations.
