Government-to-government partnerships can only get nations so far. In the brief text, Jokowi sounds more like a furniture exporter than a disciple of Sukarno, Metternich or Kissinger, talking of the need to "boost quality Indonesian products, reduce our dependency on imports, create balance and expand the scope of export markets". Ben Bland is the director of the Southeast Asia program at the Lowy Institute. And while a demographic youth bulge can create a demographic dividend, Indonesia is wasting its opportunity by not creating enough jobs. Some ASEAN member-states remain sceptical about the UKs commitment to the region, soBritish ministers will need to maintain their recent pace of visits to Southeast Asia if theywant to be seen as more serious long-term partners. The FCDO couldbenefit from the country experience, contacts and new ideas that outside experts bring,across a range of activities, from traditional diplomacy to trade and investment, anddevelopment cooperation. Nationalism and protectionism were already on the rise when COVID-19 shut down global supply chains. Britains renewed enthusiasm in Southeast Asia means, among other tasks, negotiating the idiosyncrasies of ASEAN. Ben Bland is the director of the Southeast Asia program at the Lowy Institute. The key to success will be understanding the real challenges of doing business in Indonesia, rather than wishing them away, so thatcompanies, with the support of government, are better placed to overcome them. One-stop digest of politics, economics, and culture. Delivered Monday-Saturday. Add this topic to your myFT Digest for news straight to your inbox, Economic and political turmoil at home is undercutting our Indo-Pacific ambitions, Presidents infrastructure success has defined him. It took only a short while, however, for complaints to emerge. Biographers often try to paint psychological pictures of leaders based on their time in office. 36. It is an easy mistake to make. September 15 "I am on the famous red sofa. He chose a foreign minister, Retno Marsudi, who had a lower profile than her SBY-era predecessors. 26. Twitter. But the charismatic Indonesian leader has no time for great-power politics, writes Ben Bland in a new book. It raises the question: How do companies with large global footprints decide which side to pick? Absolutely dire. Securing ASEAN Dialogue Partner status is a great opportunity to build on the UKs existingstrengths as a partner for Southeast Asian nations. In 2015, Jokowi authorised the execution of more than a dozen drug traffickers, many of whom were foreign citizens, despite concerns about the impact on international relations. Bland highlights many of Jokowis actions which have undermined Indonesias already flawed democracy notably, diluting the nations anti-corruption agency, creating his own family political dynasty, and his appeasement of conservative Islam and intolerance and of violence towards religious minorities and the LGBT community. The best way to help Southeast Asian nations stave offpressure from China is to help make them more resilient in their own right. A vibrant region of more than 650 million people, Southeast Asia presents manyopportunities for the UK. Jokowi, as the president is known, is a fascinating personality a man who leapt from being a furniture maker to city mayor (of Solo and Jakarta) and then on to lead Indonesia. A British citizen, I am an expert on Southeast Asian politics, and have been working in orstudying the region for 20 years. One unlikely but highly damaging scenario would be armed conflict between theworlds two leading powers over a flashpoint such as Taiwan, or the South or East China Seas. At the start of his second term, Jokowi appointed Mahendra Siregar, a respected diplomat and former finance official, as deputy foreign minister, with a specific focus on economic diplomacy. The Lowy Institute acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which the Institute stands, and pays respects to their elders, past and present. But to my mind, the clear message from Blands text is that optimists will be far more disappointed than the pessimists. BenBlandis aformer Director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Lowy Institute. Foreign governments have repeatedly placed far too much hope in Jokowis ability to step up in the global arena. 42. Xi Jinping had torn up former paramount leader Deng Xiaopings advice that China should "hide its strength and bide its time". It seemed more like a game of whack-a-mole than a proper plan. Keep up with the world without stopping yours. Stay informed with the latest commentary and analysis on international events from experts at the Lowy Institute and around the world. And what happens if the United States and China continue down a path of decoupling? If Jokowi wants friends with benefits what economists would call mercantilism he has no real plan to win them over, beyond his personal charm and a rotating cast of supporting officials. Before joining the Lowy Institute, I was a correspondent for the Financial Times for a decade,with postings in Jakarta, Hanoi and Hong Kong. Jokowi, by contrast, disliked the formalities of diplomacy and public speaking. Many of the values I try to live by are deeply rooted in both that faith and culture. WebView the profiles of people named Ben Bland. ", Sports presenter Mike Bushell was also quick to welcome Ben to his new job, writing on Twitter: "Welcome @BenMBoulos and impressive video multi-skilling!". But, at the same time, he replaced Tom Lembong, an effective salesman for Indonesia in global financial markets, with a low-profile figure as the head of the investment promotion board. As a child I would downplay all of that, trying to fit in and not wanting to seem in any way different. sia invaded Ukraine, and businesses around the world confronted a decision on whether to pull out of the Russian market. The lack of a concerted and comprehensive global and regional response to the pandemicalso bodes ill for another intractable collective action problem facing Southeast Asia: climatechange. Facebook. The FCDO should support more of these. and other data for a number of reasons, such as keeping FT Sites reliable and secure, Jokowi, however, has no time for great-power politics. The last few years have brought historic challenges for multinational companies. 19. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. He is interested in attracting investment from whomever has the most cash and the fewest conditions. 33. But the concept was not fleshed out. Both the Chinese Communist Party and the Hong Kong democracy movement are settling in for a long and painful struggle. Officials from other south-east Asian nations have subsequently noted that, under Jokowis leadership, Indonesia has taken a less active role in regional forums. Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called him one of the most important leaders in the world and a cool cat in every respect in his recently published memoir. For these reasons, andmore, the UK should make strengthened relations with Indonesia a priority. It comes after Ben joined BBC Breakfast as a business correspondent, with Naga Munchetty and Jon Kay left thrilled by the big news - and fans were just as excited. Jokowi, pictured with his wife, Iriana, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan, is interested in attracting investment and that has shaped his relationship with Beijing.AP. 12. http://loopers.co/. Despite strong electoral support from Papua, Jokowi continues with the ineffective efforts to use security forces to crush separatist rebels. He is the author ofMan of Contradictions: Joko Widodo and the Struggle to Remake Indonesia(Penguin Random House, 2020), the first English language politicalbiography of Indonesias president, andGeneration HK: Seeking Identity in Chinas Shadow(Penguin Random House, 2017). They believed Indonesia should act as a mediating power in south-east Asia, alleviating the growing regional frictions with China. Indonesia, sadly, is littleknown in the UK. It is partly a function of Indonesias size, its strategic location in the midst of key global shipping lanes and its history of, at times, demonstrating leadership potential. 40. WebThe Bent Ears, Del Norte, Colorado. 374 likes. As China escalated its struggle with its south-east Asian neighbours for control of the regions rich fishing grounds and reserves of oil and gas, there were some initial signs that Jokowi would take a more resolute stance. How does industry define morality? Philippines in 2016 won a landmark legal ruling against Chinas "nine-dash line". What have we learned so fShow morear, and how can we apply those lessons to make sure we dont sleepwalk into yet another war? For Future Tuesdays Ben Bland presented his Future Screens NI Rewriting the Narrative funded project Neoco: Tools & Patterns for Progressive Operations. He has cancelled several foreign trips at late notice because of domestic political difficulties and, when he does go overseas, he can be a temperamental traveller. Keen to coax Jokowi into taking action, one adviser made the case in terms that the President might accept more readily. Indeed, rather than rising to the challenge Jokowi has struggled under the immense pressure. I am the Director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Lowy Institute, a leading internationalthink-tank based in Sydney. 17. Although the UK government is looking to deepen its engagement across the Indo-Pacific, itcannot possibly hope to make a difference in all parts of such a large region, whichencompasses billions of people across two oceans. Jokowi did mention the need for "maritime diplomacy" and international co-operation to reduce the risk of conflict in the South China Sea and beyond. I focus on the intersection of politics, economics and foreign policy and am currentlyengaged in research projects looking at: overseas development assistance and influence inSoutheast Asia, the changing shape of internet governance, and future developmentpathways for the region. 24. In a later video, Ben told the camera: "Well, here is one last clue. Why spend valuable diplomatic capital on a problem that did not affect Indonesia directly? The latest Lowy Poll shows the gaps in public understanding that bedevils the goal of closer bilateral relations. Extract from Man of Contradictions: Joko Widodo and the Struggle to Remake Indonesia by Ben Bland, a Lowy Institute Paper published by Penguin Random House on 1 September 2020, RRP $12.99. bend ear phrase. He also began conducting his own diplomacy, developing a relationship with Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law and consigliere, as he sought to attract investment from the United States into the planned new capital in Kalimantan. Watch FPs Ravi Agrawal in conversation with two of the contributors to the magazines cover story, Anne-Marie Slaughter and retired Gen. David Petraeus, as they reflect on whats surprised themand how to prevent future wars. No British Prime Minister has visited Jakarta sinceDavid Cameron in 2015, although Indonesian President Joko Widodo came to London in2016. However, Boulos admitted that there was more to his decision than confusion with another journalist. Although he has taken Indonesia down a slightly more unilateral path, Jokowi is driven by instinct, whim and the winds of fortune. At times, he has demonstrated a steeliness that took outsiders by surprise. We are the Bent Ears! Written evidence by Ben Bland, Director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Lowy Institute, was submitted to the United Kingdom Parliaments Foreign Affairs Committee in September 2021 and has recently been published. He led operations at Belfast-based AI company Sensum for five years, and serves as Chair of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers P7014 working group to develop a global standard for the ethics of empathic technology. The UK, therefore, needsto leverage its existing capital if it is to keep pace with rivals and, hopefully, become a moreimportant partner for the region. Rather, it should focus on specific issuesand geographic areas in order to make the most of finite diplomatic, development andmilitary resources. 30. personalising content and ads, providing social media features and to A monthly digest of the top articles read by FP subscribers. I hope you can join us. Hello. Something went wrong, please try again later. As the Egyptian economy falters, Sisi is turning to the Chinese government for support. 4. In Thailand, the military-led government facesregular street protests after cutting off other avenues for dissent. It is also partly down to the ability of Jokowi, and his officials, to encourage people to see what they want in him and in Indonesia. Delivered Wednesday & Sunday. Delivered Thursday. I still speak and understand Arabic conversationally, although I have never learned to read and write the language (it remains an ambition to be tackled sometime). The panelists included Anne Richards, CEO of Fidelity International; Carmine Di Sibio, CEO of Ernst & Young; Mathias Miedreich, CEO of Umicore; and Lubna S. Olayan, chair of the executive committee of Olayan Financing Company. Many analysts had expected great things from the Indonesian economy. Ben Bland is Director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Lowy Institute. Boulos explained that while he is proud of the British side of his family, having the surname Bland made people fairly assume he is as British as they come, and he felt like half of his identity was being masked. He continued: Every name tells a story and I want mine to give a more complete picture of who I am. Benregularly writes opinion pieces for and provides expert comment to a wide range of international media organisations, including Bloomberg,Foreign Policy, theNew York Times,Nikkei Asiaand Reuters. Blands book makes a major contribution to our understanding of Indonesia, as well as Jokowi, the main subject. If the UK government is serious about competing with China, it has endless avenues to workwith both governments and civil society in Southeast Asia to demonstrate the benefits ofengaging with democracies that respect human rights, value environmental protections andembrace transparency and openness. Have enjoyed my time in Australia & at Lowy, working with an amazing bunch of smart, insightful people." Jokowi has struggled to contain the virus this year. Ben Bland's new book on Jokowi will be released next week.. Many Indonesian NGOs were already struggling financially before COVID-19 and thepandemic has exacerbated these strains, although these organisations are needed more than ever to support Indonesian society through a very difficult period. Sometimes he gels with his counterparts and ignores his formal talking points, and at other times he reads out speeches in robotic fashion. While a third fan joked: "I told you my letter writing campaign would work babe!. ), and just sounds absolutely terrible. By Ben Bland Mr. Email. But he relies on personality not process, Crisis of government adds to the burden of history and the challenge of nation-building, Heres what to read to understand the evolving situation in the city right now, What to look for in the year ahead from journalists on the spot around the world, Beach resorts near Jakarta most affected as undersea landslide follows volcanic eruption, Eruption of Anak Krakatau a possible cause of tidal wave in strait between Java and Sumatra, Beijing accused of campaign against government agencies and tech companies, The business community warns that Beijings steps to silence critics threaten the rule of law, Critics say case shines light on widening crackdown on dissent in city by Beijing, Ma Jian says Beijing will use authoritarian playbook deployed in Tibet to stifle dissent, Frustration over dimming prospects for democracy fuel separatist sentiment, More than 200 families face imminent eviction from their marina, A tycoon whose success was marred by family feuds, Unauthorised access obtained to passport numbers, contact details and travel histories, U-turn comes days after private banking adviser was told not to leave country, Decision is believed to be first rejection by local authorities of a foreign correspondent, The terminus of a high-speed line to Beijing highlights territorys precarious status, Government says death toll is set to rise further above 800, Beijing believes its growing international interests must be protected from terrorism, Ben Bland takes the first train on the nine hour journey to Beijing, Critics say move erodes freedoms promised after handover to China in 1997, Bank of Japan defies market pressure and holds firm on yield curve control, IMF signals upgrade to forecasts as optimism spreads at Davos, Ukrainian interior minister among 14 killed in Kyiv helicopter crash, Belarus opposition leader warns of massive disobedience if Alexander Lukashenko mobilises for Ukraine war, Chinas population falls in historic shift, Morgan Stanley retains edge over Goldman Sachs due to booming wealth unit, Goldman Sachs profits plunge two-thirds as dealmaking slumps, Jim Ratcliffe enters race to buy Manchester United, Big Four accountants in Spain probed over long hours, Live news: Scholz says inflation reduction act risks discriminating against European businesses, Russias energy weapon fails to fire as required, We must tackle the looming global debt crisis before its too late, Global oil demand set to reach record high as China reopens, IEA says, There is no path to lasting Russian victory, What the NHS and royal crises in the UK have in common, Wanted: older workers for flexible and desirable jobs, Tyler Cowen: Economists cant predict the effects of new technologies. 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On their time in office it took only a short while, however, Boulos that! Crush separatist rebels it raises the question: How do companies with large global footprints decide side., among other tasks, negotiating the idiosyncrasies of ASEAN the idiosyncrasies of ASEAN commentary... That, trying to fit in and not wanting to seem in any way different from China is to Southeast! Thailand, the UK should make strengthened relations with Indonesia a priority Egyptian economy falters, Sisi is to! With Indonesia a priority analysts had expected great things from the Indonesian economy no for... The clear message from Blands text is that optimists will be far more disappointed the! A problem that did not affect Indonesia directly navigating to the Chinese Communist Party and the of... Out speeches in robotic fashion should focus on specific issuesand geographic areas in order to make the most of diplomatic... 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