RSIS Distinguished Public Lecture by Mr Andi Widjajanto, Governor, National Resilience Institute of the Republic of Indonesia (Lemhannas RI)

Lecture Abstract

Since 1965, the Indonesian government has evolved a comprehensive security doctrine called national resilience or ketahanan nasional as a crucial foundation for national development and foundation for the country’s strategic thinking. Current global dynamics now present a wide array of challenges fir Indonesia requiring immediate action, but also a long-term plan. The success of ketahanan nasional entails participation of all elements of the country. Ketahanan nasional provides the ability for Indonesia to tackle various challenges, either coming from external or internal and either in the form of military aggression or non-military threats. The recent COVID-19 outbreak demonstrated how ketahanan nasional thinking helped quell the pandemic.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) recently mandated Indonesia’s National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas RI) to focus on five areas: green economy, blue economy, digital transformation, Nusantara Capital City resilience, and democratic consolidation. In his lecture, Bapak Andi Widjajanto will explore the following questions:

How Lemhannas will implement Jokowi’s five mandates? How will these five mandates impact Indonesia’s current strategic thinking? What are the contemporary and future strategic challenges facing Indonesia that will shape its approach to national resilience?

About the Speaker

Andi Widjajanto is Governor of National Resilience Institute of the Republic of Indonesia (Lemhannas RI). He obtained his bachelor’s degree in International Relations from University of Indonesia. Andi holds three master’s degrees from School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) University of London, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), and National Defence University, Washington D.C.

Prior to his current appointment, he served as Cabinet Secretary in President Widodo’s Kabinet Kerja (2014-2015) that was sworn in on 27 October 2014. Following which, he was Senior Adviser to the Presidential Chief of Staff (2016-2022). Mr. Widjajanto served on both the campaign teams for Jokowi – Jusuf Kalla for the 2014 presidential elections and the Jokowi – Ma’ruf Amin for the 2019 presidential elections. He was also a lecturer at International Relations Department, University of Indonesia. Furthermore, Andi has developed a reputation as a leading expert on Indonesia’s defence and security.