RSIS Seminar by Dr Yohanes Sulaiman, Lecturer, School of Government, Universitas Jenderal Ahmad Yani, Cimahi, Indonesia
Global Maritime Nexus: Towards A Grand Strategy for Indonesia?
About the Lecture:
After President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo was elected, he unveiled his Global Martime Fulcrum Doctrine, which supposedly was to become the blueprint of his economic, security, and diplomatic policies. The doctrine, in essence, aims to “restore Indonesia’s maritime glory” by focusing on Indonesia’s maritime potentials.
Almost halfway into his presidency, though, the doctrine remains poorly defined and implemented. While it could be argued that Jokowi did focus on implementing the doctrine, such as in constructing the “maritime toll road” and to deal forcefully in fighting against illegal fishing, other aspects of the doctrine, notably diplomacy and military aspects, remained underutilized. In fact, in several formal and informal occasions, several of people who were involved in the development of this doctrine, freely admitted that it was simply an electoral gimmick, which is a disappointment, considering the doctrine itself has a potential as an Indonesia’s grand strategy, something that Indonesia is completely lacking.
We are privileged to have Dr. Yohanes Sulaiman, lecturer in the School of Government at the Universitas Jenderal Achmad Yani in Cimahi, Indonesia, and also a co-author of Arungi Samudra Bersama Sang Naga (Sailing the Ocean with the Dragon: The Synergy between the Global Maritime Nexus and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road), to share his thoughts and insights on Indonesia’s Global Maritime Fulcrum/Nexus.
About the Speaker:
Dr. Yohanes Sulaiman is a Lecturer in the School of Government at the Universitas Jenderal Achmad Yani in Cimahi, Indonesia. He is also a Visiting Lecturer at the Indonesian Defense University, Indonesian Army Staff and Command School, Indonesian Air Force Staff and Command School, and Indonesian Military Staff and Command School.
Dr. Sulaiman previously served as a consultant in the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs of Indonesia. His research interests include the diplomatic history, international security, and politics of East and Southeast Asia; terrorism; and civil-military relations. He earned his BA in international relations and political science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and his MA and PhD in political science from the Ohio State University.
