“Prospects for Partnership in Assistance: The Forthcoming United States- Comprehensive Partnership”

An Open Forum With

Ann Marie Murphy Assistant Professor, Whitehead School of Diplomacy & International Relations, Seton Hall University

Don Emmerson Director, Southeast 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

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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 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

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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

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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 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 to show that they are organizations such as the International not just promoting a replication of the Republican Institute (IRI) and the U.S. system. National Endowment for Democracy (NED) as well as what they have done Gustanto represented the views and regarding democracy strengthening in ideas of the Indonesian government, Indonesia. discussing how Indonesia approaches these issues. In the past Indonesia has IRI and NDI focus on training and party brought together a wide spectrum of development. They bring volunteers countries together, including the who are colleagues and/or peers to those representatives of the Khmer Rouge, in Indonesia, not academics or paid Cambodia, and Vietnam despite protests consultants. These include the current that they were authoritarian regimes. Foreign Minister of Mongolia and the Indonesia follows this same format in only female Member of Parliament in bringing Burma, Cambodia and Laos to Pakistan. Eventually, Indonesians will the Bali Democracy forum. serve as a similar resource to other countries. Another example is regarding the ongoing conflict in the South China Sea. Indonesia has transformed to a Indonesia has engaged all parties democracy in a very short amount of concerned through strong Track 2 and time, and as such, has a lot to offer in the Track 3 forums. They prefer to use all lessons learned from such a quick forums available, especially Track 3 transformation and its current because they can usually convince development. stakeholders to come to a solution.

Mr. Garrett asked the question on When Indonesia invited countries such whether or not Indonesia should limit as China, Jordan, Iraq, Brunei and itself to technical assistance. Technical Burma to the Bali Democracy Forum, no assistance is an important issue, but one believed it would be successful

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because these are not in the that in mind. There is several things a traditional sense. However, the fact that Track 3 person can do and it is possible all of these countries came symbolized for someone in Track 3 to have an their good intention and willingness to arrangement with Indonesians interested work towards a solution. Indonesia does in democracy and sharing issues. In this not wish to change Burma overnight, as discussion the elites do matter. How do this would be impossible. But they can you organize mass movements for show them through Indonesia’s democracy at the village level? experiences how to improve themselves. Murphy: You can go to Indonesia and It is this inclusivity that differentiates the hear from all levels that they want more Bali Democracy Forum from U.S. from the U.S. The whole point of the democracy promotion; however this partnership is to move on and to does not mean they conflict. They innovate. compliment each other well and can easily worth together. Q: What do you think of Indonesia’s Indonesia wants to show the world and role in Burma and whether this should / the Middle East that Islam and can be coordinated? democracy can live hand in hand. The U.S. however has to understand that the A: Gustanto: The position of the GOI is Middle East is not automatically Muslim that the election next year cannot be free and their culture is not necessarily and fair unless Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Islamic. is released. Within ASEAN, Indonesia has been the most vocal, saying that Questions: Burma must fulfill its own promice to return to the roadmap to democracy. Q: How can other countries such as Thailand and Malaysia come to Emmerson: The U.S. has exhausted Indonesia regarding combating democracy promotion of a overly corruption considering its own rigorous sort. Realism is slowly moving reputation? towards the Bali Democracy Forum method, especially in Burma where we A: Garret: Indonesia is one of many are on a conceivable shift from examples on how to deal with this. With democratization to reconciliation. If Indonesia they would feel more reconciliation could happen between comfortable. Indonesia adds what has civil society it would not be democracy, been missing from the discussion in the but it would be better than what we have past. now. This is incrementalist. Looking at the relationship with Burma this way, Q: Can the panelists comment on a top the elections next year could be a down approach versus a grassroots moderately useful farce. approach? Q: If you want to look at democratic A: Emmerson: This is a Track 1 values in East Asian framework, how do partnership, government to government we do that? and the bottom up approach has to keep

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A: Emmerson: That debate is over, though the issues will not go away. The critical issue now is to ask whether democracy is in and of itself a good thing, or an instrument of economic growth and stability. Asians are committed to instrumentalist views of democracy.

Q: How do you think Southeast Asia and Indonesia perception will change as a result of the lower priority given to democracy promotion of the current administration compared to the last?

A: Emmerson: It will be positive. The Obama Administration is inching towards a more inclusive model, Burma is an example.

Q: Is there a correlation between democracy and trade liberalization?

A: Murphy: Singapore is the most open economic country in Southeast Asia, yet it has not lead to democracy there or vice versa. That link does not always hold.

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