Foreign Policy Talks

In this episode, I talked to Gracia Paramitha, the co-founder of Indonesian Youth Diplomacy (IYD) on the state of global agendas in the post COVID-19 world. We explore the most important global issues to watch this year and how has COVID-19 pandemic made us forget about those issues. Moreover, we had a conversation on how to re-shape our efforts in anticipating the top global risks reported by World Economic Forum Global Risks Report 2020. As someone who has been very active in promoting youth collaboration in solving the world problems, I also asked her why youth should come up and be consistent with their voices, actions, and initiatives?

In this episode, I talked with a top career diplomat and distinguished foreign policy thinker, H.E. Dr. Hassan Wirajuda, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Indonesia (2001-2009) and member of the Indonesian Council of Presidential Advisors from 2009-2014.

I asked his view on the geopolitical and geo-economical changes in the post-COVID-19 world and how should Indonesia reposition its foreign policy amidst this shifting landscape. I also explored the future of Indonesia's economic diplomacy and get his insights on what has been missing under President Jokowi's foreign policy agenda. The most interesting part of this interview is his suggestion on what should Indonesia do in the middle of escalating US-China tensions. As someone who has been very active in promoting democracy, he definitely has some takes on how Indonesia's foreign policy can play a more constructive role in reviving the advancement of global democracy.

This year, ASEAN launched 2020 as a year of ASEAN Identity. ASEAN also has formulated a planned integration among its ten member nations and has challenged its citizens to embrace a regional identity. What is the importance of having ASEAN identity for ASEAN people? What is the current state of ASEAN integration and ASEAN as one community? and what are the roles of ASEAN young people in increasing the awareness of ASEAN Identity? 

I explore those questions with Jonathan Tan, the Head of Culture and Division at ASEAN Secretariat. 

Thousands of Thailand’s youth were rallying on the streets of Bangkok and claimed it as one of the biggest anti-governments protests in the last decades. Why are these young generations of Thai are protesting against the government? How to understand the roots of the repressive environment or lack of freedom of expression in Thailand?

Furthermore, the protesters were shouting “Down with Dictatorship, Long Live Democracy”! What is wrong with Thailand’s democracy?

I discussed those questions with Pongkwan Sawasdipakdi, Professor at the Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University in Thailand. Check it out!