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Until the launch of the Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) in 2018, Indonesia failed to consider Africa as a strategic region for its expansion, opposite to its interests and other major Asian powers; focusing instead on the still inaccessible operationalisation of an Afro-Asian platform, the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP), beyond its material and ideational capabilities. The Afro-Asian narrative remained symbolic in Indonesia, with little emphasis on Africa itself. The perception of Africa was elusive. Under President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and his chief ally, retired General Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Indonesia shifted to a more pragmatic African foreign policy, mimicking other external powers like China; allowing an examination of the ultimate drivers of external powers in Africa and the role of leadership prowess, popularity, and mindset in foreign policy. The first part reviews seminal works and clichés on Indonesian foreign policy, which excluded Africa until recently. The next section underlines Jokowi’s presidential leadership impact on forming Indonesia’s new African multi-bilateral approach; linked to his power consolidation. The third part describes Indonesia’s African expansion as a Southeast Asian developmental state whose economic development serves sovereignty, security, and leadership legitimacy. Initially focusing on seeking infrastructure projects for Indonesian State-Owned Corporations (SOEs) in Africa, General Luhut’s commando-style task force for Africa ultimately seeks to establish a Global South alliance in the Bandung Spirit to support commodity-based industrialisation (hilirisasi). The concluding part examines the role of ideas and knowledge production in Indonesia’s still modest yet potentially fruitful African approach. If Indonesia ups its intellectual game, Africa could permit a renewal of ASEAN Centrality while supporting the archipelago’s post-ASEAN foreign policy ambitions. In a geopolitically disputed context, Africa may be Indonesia’s road to great power. Jokowi’s historical visit to Africa in August 2023, also attending the BRICS Summit in South Africa, confirms Africa’s new significance for contemporary Indonesia.

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Indonesia In, France Out? Contrasted Fates in Africa and the Global South’s Rising Appeal

  • 章节

  • 发表日期：

    2026年

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  • Christophe Dorigné-Thomson

摘要

Until the launch of the Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) in 2018, Indonesia failed to consider Africa as a strategic region for its expansion, opposite to its interests and other major Asian powers; focusing instead on the still inaccessible operationalisation of an Afro-Asian platform, the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP), beyond its material and ideational capabilities. The Afro-Asian narrative remained symbolic in Indonesia, with little emphasis on Africa itself. The perception of Africa was elusive. Under President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and his chief ally, retired General Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Indonesia shifted to a more pragmatic African foreign policy, mimicking other external powers like China; allowing an examination of the ultimate drivers of external powers in Africa and the role of leadership prowess, popularity, and mindset in foreign policy. The first part reviews seminal works and clichés on Indonesian foreign policy, which excluded Africa until recently. The next section underlines Jokowi’s presidential leadership impact on forming Indonesia’s new African multi-bilateral approach; linked to his power consolidation. The third part describes Indonesia’s African expansion as a Southeast Asian developmental state whose economic development serves sovereignty, security, and leadership legitimacy. Initially focusing on seeking infrastructure projects for Indonesian State-Owned Corporations (SOEs) in Africa, General Luhut’s commando-style task force for Africa ultimately seeks to establish a Global South alliance in the Bandung Spirit to support commodity-based industrialisation (hilirisasi). The concluding part examines the role of ideas and knowledge production in Indonesia’s still modest yet potentially fruitful African approach. If Indonesia ups its intellectual game, Africa could permit a renewal of ASEAN Centrality while supporting the archipelago’s post-ASEAN foreign policy ambitions. In a geopolitically disputed context, Africa may be Indonesia’s road to great power. Jokowi’s historical visit to Africa in August 2023, also attending the BRICS Summit in South Africa, confirms Africa’s new significance for contemporary Indonesia.