American Grand Strategy and Us Foreign Policy Towards Indonesia
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AMERICAN GRAND STRATEGY AND US FOREIGN POLICY TOWARDS INDONESIA CHRISTOPHER W. FREISE ORCID IDENTIFIER: 0000-0002-8314-4717 SUBMITTED FOR EXAMINATION, APRIL 2017, IN TOTAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY SCHOOL OF SOCIAL AND POLITICAL SCIENCES FACULTY OF ARTS UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE pg. 2 DECLARATIONS This is to certify that: • The thesis comprises only my original work towards the Ph.D • Due and appropriate acknowledgement has been made in the text to all other material used. • The thesis is less than 100,000 words in length, exclusive of tables, figures and bibliographies. Christopher W. Freise April 2017 pg. 3 ABSTRACT This study focuses on how and why American grand strategy has impacted bilateral US foreign policy towards Indonesia, and the manner in which particularly American characteristics of strategic culture have infused this dynamic relationship. The overall value placed upon Indonesia within US grand strategic considerations has varied considerably in the post-World II period, as too have particular policies that take Indonesia’s changing role into account. Structural realist approaches fail to fully explain these fluctuations of interest towards Indonesia by the United States, as they were influenced but not determined by changes within the international system. As such, strict structural realist explanations can tell only part of the story. In order to address shortcomings of the structural realist model, these variations in strategic importance and bilateral policy are considered using a neoclassical realist model in order to consider the unique practice and formulation of American grand strategy. Particular attention is paid to the national security and strategic culture in which such strategies are considered, formulated, and evaluated in order to better understand how such policies are understood and made. Such a framework allows for the consideration of the traditional strengths and weaknesses associated with realist scholarship while supplementing these perspectives with a nuanced and historically-oriented viewpoint that evaluates how particularly American characteristics within the formulation and practice of grand strategy influence the relationship of the United States with Indonesia. Historical and contemporary data are evaluated using Green’s “three-note chord” formulation of American grand strategic thought, highlighting the overlapping concerns of physical security, economic security, and the promotion of values within both overall American grand strategy and US bilateral foreign policy towards Indonesia. Through the consideration of the influence of traditional and historical characteristics of American grand strategy, namely the particular national strategic culture of the United States, a more comprehensive understanding of Indonesia’s changing role within the overall foreign policy framework of the United States can be found. In doing so, it also confirms the theoretical and practical value offered by neoclassical realism within the broader universe of international relations scholarship. Furthermore, this nuanced examination of American strategic culture allows for an insight into what role Indonesia might play in the future of American grand strategy while also pointing to potential sources of future scholarship. pg. 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to acknowledge the Wurundjeri people, and pay respect to their Elders past and present, whose land provided so many of the resources that allowed this project and myself to progress to this stage. Like any work of this scale, it is inconceivable that this could have been completed without an inspirational amount of support well beyond what I could have ever imagined or expected. I have neither the ability nor the space to adequately thank those that have been so instrumental in assisting along the way, both intellectually and otherwise. I have been more fortunate than I can describe to be the recipient of so many wonderful efforts, both conscious and not. I hope that those offering such priceless gifts in the finest traditions of giving humbly and wholeheartedly of themselves without the expectation of reward or reciprocity can understand my reluctance to provide a detailed list, but I trust that you know who you are. I humbly ask that you forgive me for my discretion in this instance, but please know that this work – and myself as a person – would not be here without your many influences. From the very bottom of my heart, I thank you. I would be remiss if I did not specifically mention my thesis supervisor, Professor Derek McDougall. Since well before I set foot on the campus of the University of Melbourne and without fail ever since, he has shown himself to be the very best example of academic supervision ideals in practice. It has not always been a pleasant experience, as my path had several detours and a few stumbles, but that was never due to any shortcoming on his part but rather the many that I must reluctantly claim. Derek is a friend, a mentor, and a scholar of the highest quality, with his grace and wisdom only surpassed by his immense modesty. My parents, Roger and Barbara Freise, my brother Stephen, and my extended family have been steadfast and loving companions throughout this journey, long before I ever set foot on Australian soil. I have called on them in times of both joy and need, and without fail they answered these calls with levels of loving kindness and compassion that is truly inspirational. Simply put, they have made me strive to be the best version of myself that I can possibly be. It has been a journey, and I could think of no travelling companions that I would selfishly like to enjoy it with than them – and long may it continue. It is with more gratitude and appreciation than I can possibly express that I thank them for everything they have so selflessly offered – past, present, and future. It is with this in mind that I dedicate this work to them. Whatever errors and shortcomings remain, they remain the sole responsibility of an incredibly fortunate and indescribably blessed author. pg. 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATIONS ................................................................................................................................ 2 ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................................................... 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................................. 4 CHAPTER 1: ....................................................................................................................................... 8 US FOREIGN POLICY TOWARDS INDONESIA AND AMERICAN GRAND STRATEGY .... 8 RESEARCH QUESTION ..................................................................................................................................... 14 NEOCLASSICAL REALISM ................................................................................................................................ 21 STRATEGIC CULTURE ...................................................................................................................................... 22 STRUCTURE ....................................................................................................................................................... 26 CHAPTER 2: ..................................................................................................................................... 30 GRAND STRATEGY AND FOREIGN POLICY ............................................................................ 30 PURPOSE OF CHAPTER .................................................................................................................................... 31 GRAND STRATEGY ........................................................................................................................................... 32 NATIONAL STRATEGIC CULTURE .................................................................................................................. 40 NEOCLASSICAL REALISM ................................................................................................................................ 45 AMERICAN STRATEGIC CULTURE ................................................................................................................. 48 CHAPTER 3: ..................................................................................................................................... 55 US FOREIGN POLICY AND INDONESIA, 1945-1997 ............................................................ 55 THE PERMESTA/PRRI REBELLION .............................................................................................................. 64 KONFRONTASI .................................................................................................................................................. 72 SEPTEMBER 30TH MOVEMENT AND REACTION .......................................................................................... 75 POST-VIETNAM WITHDRAWAL .................................................................................................................... 82 CHAPTER 4: ..................................................................................................................................... 99 US FOREIGN POLICY AND INDONESIA, 1997-2004 ............................................................ 99 ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS ...........................................................................................................................