An Indonesian Perspective on the Indo-Pacific Regional Architecture
Session 5 of the Franco-German Observatory of the Indo-Pacific, co organized by Sciences Po-CERI and the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA).
A number of European countries have embraced the Indo-Pacific terminology, with, for example, France and Germany establishing foreign policy guidelines for the region.
Our Franco-German Observatory invites key actors from the Indo-Pacific to present their vision of the region, how they conceive of it geo-strategically and the place of China, the US, and Europe within this framework. We look forward to debating questions of political and economic interdependence and independence, of trade and investment, and the expectations the countries of the Indo-Pacific might have towards the ‘West’ in general, and Europe, in particular.
The Franco-German Observatory invites every month a speaker from Indo-Pacific region to present the vision, or visions, that key actors in the region – from policymakers, military strategists to businesspeople – seek to promote.
Southeast Asia forms a geographical carrefour of the Indo-Pacific. Yet, most of its member states have long been reluctant to embrace this strategic terminology, as they were concerned that it may be perceived as exceedingly assertive against China. In contrast with this general cautiousness, Indonesia has been the first and most proactive promoter of an ASEAN-centric Indo-Pacific outlook (formally adopted in June 2019). Indonesian leaders have striven to color the concept with a more cooperative tint, in line with the archipelagic state’s long-standing commitment to the promotion of an open and inclusive regional architecture.
This session will contextualize Indonesia’s Indo-Pacific outlook and assess its potential to effectively reshape the strategic narrative of a region that remains divided by its members’ conflicting geopolitical interests.
Prof. Dr. Dewi Fortuna Anwar, Akademi Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia (AIPI).
Prof. Dr. Dewi Fortuna Anwar is an academician of the Indonesian Academy of Sciences (AIPI), a Research Professor at the Center for Political Studies-Indonesian Institute of Sciences (P2P-LIPI), Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Habibie Center (THC), and co-founder of the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI) based in Jakarta. In 2010-2017 Dewi served as a Deputy Secretary to the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia and from 2001 to 2010 as Deputy Chairman for Social Sciences and Humanities-LIPI. Dewi was the Kippenberger Visiting Chair at the Centre for Strategic Studies, Victoria University of Wellington in 2018, a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), NTU, Singapore in 2017-2018, a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at CSEAS, Kyoto University in 2010 and a Distinguished Visiting Professor at SAIS, Johns Hopkins University in 2007. She has written widely on Indonesia’s foreign policy, and ASEAN regional political and security issues.
Chairs & Moderation:
Dr. Andreas Ufen, Senior Research Fellow at the GIGA Institute for Asian Studies.
Prof. Delphine Allès, Professor and Director of the International Relations programme at Inalco.