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Indonesia–Australia Relations in the Era of Democracy: The View from the Indonesian Side by Priyambudi Sulistiyanto

Summary
In this journal, Sulistiyanto (2010) discusses how the relationship between Indonesia and Australia has changed since the implementation of a new democracy and domestic politics.. He says Indonesia has played a major role using democracy to shape the bilateral relationship with Australia.
Sulistiyanto (2010) says that factors such as history, politics and diplomacy have affected this relationship. He says that Soehartos ruling in three decades was authoritative, thus political changes in both countries have overshadowed this bilateral relationship. Sulistiyanto (2010) says that these relationships can get understood using four perspectives. The first perspective got based on their history and their geographical locations. He says that their relationship dates back as 16th and 17th centuries. Australia helped Indonesia achieve freedom from the Dutch using diplomacy. The geographical view shows that Australia’s biggest and closest neighbor is Indonesia. The closeness has ensured that these two countries require to always having a good relationship in good and bad times. The second perspective, he says is based on politics and strategy. The stability of politics and economy in Indonesia affects the future of Australia. If Indonesia is stable politically its strategic for Australia because they will be in a position to export their goods using Indonesia’s air and space.
The third perspective, he says is based on fear and identification, he explains that the bilateral relationship between these two countries sometimes destabilizes because they fear each other. Sulistiyanto (2010) says that if Indonesia were to become destabilized Australia fears there would be a regional crisis. Indonesia also fears that one day Indonesia will collapse. He points out that the spirit of neighborliness should get encouraged to get rid of these fears. He says that the fourth perspective got based on international relations. Democracy is basic in maintenance of this bilateral relationship. Domestic politics are also important and help to maintain a balance in this relationship. He concludes that breaking away from the authoritarian politics of Soeharto and Sukarno reduced abuse of human rights. The press has experienced freedom and the Indonesians have access to international news as well as local news. Private television cables are also as a result of democracy. The maintenance of democracy in Indonesia for the past 11 years has helped to come up with a civil society.

Analysis

I believe there is more that can get done to improve the bilateral relationship between the two countries. Sulistiyanto (2010) asks if there is more that can get done to better the relationship of people between Australia and Indonesia. He says that a culture is crucial in shaping the bilateral relationship; the other important factor that I agree with is education. Education and arts are universal and they are languages that people can speak and understand each other. Regarding the answer to this question Sulistiyanto (2010) should have explained more factors and at length on how to better people to people relationship between Australia and Indonesia.
Some of the issues that arise from this article are use of parliament in playing a big role in issues related to foreign policy using a commission. He says that it is hard to measure the influence created by the parliament, and hence a problem presented by the journal. The Indonesian institute of sciences is funded by the government and hence the institute allows the researchers to give their views about the bilateral relationship between Indonesia and Australia. These views are likely to get biased and hence sometimes these views cannot get validated. Research projects headed by these institutions are suited to benefit Indonesia and not the region or Australia. The Indonesian researchers go to Australia to achieve their post graduate studies. Sulistiyanto is not sure of how the researchers influence the bilateral relationship between these two countries once they come back
I agree with Sulistiyanto (2010) when he says that a sense of confidence that is strong gets created when freedom is exercised. Even though, the new democracy has allowed the freedom of the press. I feel some of the Indonesian media are likely to not comply with the required set guidelines. This journal is very informative and has been well researched and expressed in a way that is easy to understand.

Reference

Sulistiyanto, P. (March 2010). Indonesia–Australia Relations in the Era of Democracy: The
View from the Indonesian Side. Australian Journal of Political Science 45(1), 117-132.