Comprehensive Partnership, 9-16-2009
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“Prospects for Partnership in Democracy Assistance: The Forthcoming United States-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership” An Open Forum With Ann Marie Murphy Assistant Professor, Whitehead School of Diplomacy & International Relations, Seton Hall University Don Emmerson Director, Southeast Asia Forum, Stanford University Tom Garrett Vice President for Programs, International Republican Institute Gustanto, Minister Counselor for Political Affairs, Embassy of Indonesia September 16, 2009 Ann Marie Murphy started her There are a series of obstacles that exist discussion by addressing the basic that must be taken into consideration question of whether or not democracy when deciding how to turn this into promotion should be apart of the concrete policy on both ends. Both comprehensive partnership. At first countries have had different experiences glance, the obvious answer is “yes”. with democracy. In the U.S., it is more President Yudhoyono cited in his ideologically based whereas Indonesia November 2008 speech that the U.S. and has had to navigate a “messy transition Indonesia have shared democratic to democracy”. Indonesians appreciate values. Secretary Clinton echoed these the more pragmatic benefits that sentiments when she went to Jakarta in democracy creates. Indonesia feels that February, 2009. Both sides feel that there are many different roads to a these values compose a strong variety of types of democracy, whereas foundation for the partnership, so it the U.S. leans more towards the opposite would seem like a good idea. The fact viewpoint. The U.S. prefers more that both the U.S. and Indonesia, within concrete deliverables being put on the the context of ASEAN, have promoted table, something Indonesia, which democracy abroad is another key reason prefers to take their time and focus on to push for democracy promotion being the process, does not emphasize. With apart of this partnership. so many other topics being discussed in the context of this partnership, it needs www.usindo.org - 1 - Comprehensive Partnership, Sept. 16, 2009 PDF Created with deskPDF PDF Writer - Trial :: http://www.docudesk.com to be decided early on what percentage put up a constraint regarding the of resources will go towards democracy relationship with Indonesia and promotion. If the result is marginal, then perceptions in Indonesia regarding U.S. democracy promotion should be foreign policy, especially in the Middle reconsidered. These obstacles need to East, has held them back from further be ironed out if democracy promotion reaching out towards the U.S. will be entered into policy on both ends. Efforts to strengthen Indonesia’s The point has been brought up that democracy have already begun such as Indonesia can be assist in democracy the U.S. offering parliamentary promotion on a global scale. This is exchange programs to Indonesian certainly a possibility. However, is this legislators. The main effort of this really in Indonesia’s interest? Rizal partnership is to move away from Sukma of CSIS Jakarta pointed out that traditional aid donation and work U.S. funding can be seen as a “kiss of towards a more equitable partnership. death”. Indonesia may also not have as We should work hard to find new and much influence in the larger Muslim innovative ways to bring the relationship world that people might think, despite to that level. having such a large Muslim community with many Middle Eastern Muslims In the end, a shared normative having a less than generous view of commitment to democracy is a key Indonesian Muslims. aspect of the partnership, but there are a series of differences and attitudes that The Bali Democracy Forum’s unique need to be discussed regarding method of inviting everyone to the table, democracy promotion. including decidedly non-democratic states such as Burma, Cambodia, and Don Emmerson followed up by Laos, offers another option for U.S. discussion more specifics of the program support. The Forum lacks a specific itself. technical expertise that the U.S. could offer, theoretically strengthening its The democracy strand in the efforts. There are however, several comprehensive partnership should be questions that arise. Does Indonesia based on the principle of two-way want this assistance, or does it believe learning. The relationships should that it would detract from its efforts? enable Americans to learn about--and How much support would this assistance learn from--the nature of Indonesian receive in the U.S. given the presence of democracy and how Indonesians think of authoritarian countries such as Burma democracy, and the same opportunity who are not moving towards should be made available to democracy? Indonesians. Each partner should, for example, acquire a more thorough and This brings up the important notion of nuanced understanding of how the other public opinion. Historically public one approaches democratization, opinion in both countries has inhibited including the question of whether the relationship. NGO’s and the human democracy should be a goal of foreign rights community in the U.S. have often policy, and if so, how best to pursue that www.usindo.org - 2 - Comprehensive Partnership, Sept. 16, 2009 PDF Created with deskPDF PDF Writer - Trial :: http://www.docudesk.com goal. issues, the partnership should explore the possibility of involving new venues such Democracy is also, in different ways, a as university-based programs. badge of identity for both countries. The partnership and its activities should, Balances that are appropriate to and however modestly, help strengthen desired by the Indonesian side should be democracy as an aspect of how worked out between studying and Indonesians and Americans construe assisting already existing democracy their national selves. inside Indonesia and encouraging prospective democracy outside the Indonesians are numerous and diverse. country. To the extent that exchanges of But they do not wish to be enlisted in an views and experiences on democracy American campaign to democratize issues in Southeast Asia are agreed Asia. The approach to democratization upon, Myanmar will be an obvious and favored by President Obama differs from critical choice for attention. But that that of the first administration of George case should not overshadow questions W. Bush in being more realistic, less regarding the quality and efficacy of direct, more multilateralist, and less democracy in other parts of the region, inclined to favor confrontation over questions that may be less commonly engagement. Notwithstanding raised but are nonetheless relevant to the significant differences between the styles marked unevenness of democratic and methods of the two governments institutions and practices across the when it comes to democratization as a ASEAN states. foreign policy aim, Jakarta and Washington are less far apart than they To the extent that democracy inside were before. The popularity of SBY in Indonesia and inside the United States the US and of Obama in Indonesia has are agreed-upon topics for consideration also contributed to good relations under the partnership, it will be helpful between the countries. The partnership to note Indonesia's successful (if not should take advantage of, and build unblemished) record of repeatedly upon, this moment of mutual conducting national, regional, and local opportunity. elections, compared with the weakness of Indonesian judicial institutions and Partnership activities on democracy the persistence of corruption (despite should involve individuals and significant and partially successful organizations on Track I, Track II, and efforts to eradicate it). In that empirical Track III. Among participants on the context, assuring the rule of law and the Indonesian side, the official Bali protection of human rights and freedoms Democracy Forum and the academic deserves priority attention. The Institute for Peace and Democracy at partnership should also consider Udayana University come readily, encouraging young Indonesian scholars though not exclusively, to mind. On the and activists to appraise and critically US side, apart from various American evaluate aspects of American democracy institutions--official, semi-official, in relation to Indonesian conditions and unofficial--that already cooperate with preferences. Indonesian counterparts on governance www.usindo.org - 3 - Comprehensive Partnership, Sept. 16, 2009 PDF Created with deskPDF PDF Writer - Trial :: http://www.docudesk.com Inevitably the partnership will touch Indonesia has a lot of important upon or encompass activities that are information and experiences to share on already planned or ongoing. In 2010 peaceful transition of power. This does Indonesia will, for example, host a not happen in many counties such as gathering of the World Movement for Bangladesh and Pakistan. Democracy and a workshop on democracy co-sponsored by the Bali The Middle East has drawn lessons Democracy Forum and the Asia Pacific learned from Indonesia, however there is Democracy Partnership. The partnership strong resistance to taking advice from a should, however, also strive for creative country outside the Arab world. innovation beyond existing groups, Indonesian advice would be better activities, and agendas. An especially received in Asia. high value should be placed on involving younger-generation actors from both The fact that Indonesia’s experience in countries. democracy is so different than that of the U.S. is actually a benefit as it allows the Tom Garrett talked about the stance of U.S. and Indonesia