Assessing Indonesia's normative influence: Wishful thinking or hidden strength

Abstract

This article takes a critical stance on Indonesia 's normative influence. %ilst normative influence does help explain why Indonesia matters beyond the widespread consensus that it is weak, we also feel that its influence is often overstated. We examine three components of Indonesia's norma tive influence, modelling, diplomacy and civil society activism. In each component we assess the strengths and weaknesses of Indonesia and where wishfùl thinking predominates over dispassionate analysis. We conclude by arguing that the approach to foreign policy destabilises the traditional make-up of normative influence and, if it is pursued into the füture, will lead to a re-composition of that influence.