Course Description

The Indonesian Foreign Policy course is a compulsory course for undergraduate students in International Relations at Gadjah Mada University. The designation of this course as a compulsory course is based on the history of the International Relations Department at Gadjah Mada University, formerly known as the Academy of Political Science. This school was specifically established to meet the need for diplomats assigned abroad after Indonesia’s independence, specifically after sovereignty was transferred to the Republic in 1949.

Over time, many universities have established International Relations departments, thus meeting the need for diplomats from other universities. Nevertheless, the Indonesian Foreign Policy course remains highly relevant as a compulsory course, given that International Relations is the study of relations between states. According to a 1947 UNESCO Decree, the scope of International Relations is: First, International Politics, which consists of two main components: Foreign Policy and Diplomacy; Second, International Law; and Third, International Organization and Administration.

The above scope clearly demonstrates that Foreign Policy is a core topic in International Relations. Meanwhile, Indonesian Foreign Policy is a crucial topic for international relations students in Indonesia. This course will examine Indonesian foreign policy from the era of President Sukarno to President Jokowi, using a periodic approach to generalize the challenges, opportunities, and threats encountered during each leadership period. In addition, this course will also specifically explore the issues faced by each president regarding borders, foreign debt/investment, globalization (trade liberalization), the environment, and human rights.

The learning model for this course largely emphasizes the scope of analysis: “Things that influence foreign policy; and the implementation of foreign policy.” Considering that Indonesia is a developing country, several approaches will be used to analyze issues in each period. These approaches are: the Great Power Approach, which views the foreign policy of developing countries as a reaction to superpower competition; the Psychological Approach, which emphasizes the psychological state of a president or head of state/government; and the Reductionist Approach, which views the foreign policy of developing countries as always following that of developed countries.

There is a tendency for policymakers in developing countries to always face dilemmas in formulating policies, namely: the Dilemma between Aid and Independence (Foreign Aid or Independence); the Dilemma between Objectives and Resources (Objectives with limited resources); and the Dilemma between Security and Development. (Security and Development). These dilemmas can help International Relations students analyze the difficulties a president faces in formulating foreign policy.

Among the familiar approaches, factors influencing Indonesian foreign policy will be emphasized because they are easier to implement. The main factors influencing Indonesian foreign policy include: Geographical Position, Natural Wealth, Natural Resources and Population, Political System, and Presidential Leadership.

This class utilizes several teaching and learning methods, including lectures (one-way), class discussions (two-way), and student-centered learning (a learning method that focuses on students, particularly on collaboration, cooperation, and problem-solving). Following the COVID-19 pandemic, since 2022, the Indonesian Foreign Policy and Diplomacy course has been delivered face-to-face. Communication with students can be done using Zoom, Google Classroom, or Google Meet.

Expected Learning Outcome

1. Explain the two tools of foreign policy: War and Diplomacy, and how to implement diplomacy to achieve foreign policy goals while avoiding war. (1) Implementation of the use of diplomacy to achieve foreign policy goals, (2) Theories of diplomatic success and failure in implementing foreign policy, (3) Foreign policy theories for developing countries.
2. Defend arguments in academic forums to evaluate Indonesia’s diplomatic practices in adapting to the international environment and contemporary international relations issues.
3. Students can develop ideas about Indonesian leadership in international and multicultural interactions.
4. Students can create patterns of challenges, opportunities, and threats to Indonesian foreign policy.
5. Students can analyze Indonesia’s role in international forums from independence to the present.
6. Students can evaluate government solutions or policies on border issues, foreign debt/investment, globalization (trade liberalization), the environment, and human rights.

Syllabus

Read the full syllabus here.