Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T19:49:32.283Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Indonesia's Position in Asia: Increasing Soft Power and Connectivity through the 2018 Asian Games

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 October 2020

Friederike Trotier
Friederike Trotier*
Affiliation:
University of Passau, Germany
*
*Corresponding author. Email: Friederike.trotier@uni-passau.de
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Hosting a sports mega-event strengthens connectivity with the world and provides opportunities to establish or increase networks and to build soft power. These events operate as hubs for the global flow of capital, people, knowledge and technology, and they perform important rituals and symbolic functions. In particular, they become coveted opportunities to enrich the soft power portfolio of governments or individual leaders. Despite its regional character, the Asian Games have developed into such a mega-event. In 2018 – only for the second time in the history of the Asian Games – Indonesia staged the event in Jakarta and Palembang. This paper scrutinises the ways in which Indonesia used or failed to use the Asian Games as a platform to increase the country's soft power and reputation and to strengthen intra-Asian connectivity. Three aspects serve as examples to assess Indonesia's soft power initiatives: (1) the “spirit of 1962”, (2) the host country's emergence on the Asian stage and (3) Indonesia's cooperation with other countries and intra-Asia connections in the context of the sports event. Examining the prominence of domestic politics reveals shortcomings and untapped potential. The analysis shows that the inward-looking foreign policy approach of the Jokowi administration limited the initiatives to increase Indonesian soft power and to establish and address Asian themes and debates; consequently, this approach downgraded the sports event to a tool to generate political capital for domestic affairs.

Keywords

Asian Gamessports mega-eventsoft powerIndonesiaintra-Asian connectivity
Type
Original Article
Information
TRaNS: Trans-Regional and -National Studies of Southeast Asia , Volume 9 , Issue 1 , May 2021 , pp. 81 - 97
Check for updates
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Institute of East Asian Studies, Sogang University.

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Affan, Heyder. 2017. “SEA Games 2017: Mengapa Sejak Reformasi, Prestasi Indonesia Terus Terpuruk?,” BBC Indonesia, 29 August. Available at: http://www.bbc.com/indonesia/olahraga-41072624 (accessed 21 September 2017).Google Scholar
Alexandra, Lina A. 2017. “Offering support and sharing experiences: Indonesia's approach to peacebuilding.” In Rising Powers and Peacebuilding: Breaking the Mold?, edited by Coll, Charles T., and Coning, Cedric de, 39–68. Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Allès, Delphine. 2016. Transnational Islamic Actors and Indonesia's Foreign Policy: Transcending the State. Oxon and New York: Routledge.Google Scholar
Almuttaqi, Ahmad Ibrahim. 2020. Jokowi's Indonesia and the World. Singapore: World Scientific Publishing.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Aspinall, Edward, and Marcus, Mietzner. 2019. “Southeast Asia's troubling elections: Nondemocratic pluralism in Indonesia.” Journal of Democracy 30(4): 104–118.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Basit, Abdul. 2012. “Review of the global Muslim community: Analyzing the current state of turmoil and upheaval.” In The Global Muslim Community at a Crossroads: Understanding Religious Beliefs, Practices, and Infighting to End the Conflict, edited by Basit, Abdul, 3–18. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO.Google Scholar
Berenschot, Ward. 2017. “Ahok's Defeats and Public Debate in Indonesia,” New Mandala, 18 May. Available at: http://www.newmandala.org/ahoks-defeats-say-public-debate-indonesia/ (accessed 16 October 2017).Google Scholar
Besnier, Nico, Brownell, Susan, and Carter, Thomas F.. 2018. The Anthropology of Sport: Bodies, Borders, Biopolitics. Oakland: University of California Press.Google Scholar
Black, David. 2008. “Dreaming big: The pursuit of ‘second order’ games as a strategic response to globalization.” Sport in Society 11(4): 467–480.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Black, David. 2014. “Megas for strivers: The politics of second-order events.” In Leveraging Legacies from Sports Mega-Events: Concepts and Cases, edited by Grix, Jonathan, 13–23. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brannagan, Paul Michael, and Richard, Giulianotti. 2018. “The soft power–soft disempowerment nexus: The case of Qatar.” International Affairs 94(5): 1139–1157.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brannagan, Paul Michael, and Jonathan, Grix. 2019. “Soft power projection via the Olympic Games: Sport as geopolitical diplomacy.” In Media, Sport, Nationalism. East Asia: Soft Power Projection via the Modern Olympic Games: Essays in Honour of Professor J.A. Mangan's Contribution to East Asian Studies, edited by Ren, Tianwei, Ikeda, Keiko, and Woo, Chang Wan, 251–267. Berlin: Logos.Google Scholar
Brownell, Susan. 2008. Beijing's Games: What the Olympics Mean to China. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield.Google Scholar
Brownell, Susan. 2012. “Wushu and the Olympic Games: ‘Combination of East and West’ or clash of body cultures?.” In Perfect Bodies: Sports, Medicine and Immortality, edited by Lo, Vivienne, 61–72. London: British Museum.Google Scholar
Butt, Simon. 2014. “Returning to the 1945 Constitution: What does it mean?,” New Mandala, 18 June. Available at: https://www.newmandala.org/returning-to-the-1945-constitution-what-does-it-mean/ (accessed 24 March 2020).Google Scholar
Careem, Nazvi. 2018. “Asian Games: Indonesia's ‘People Power’ Asian Games Legacy can Boost its 2032 Olympic Hopes,” South China Morning Post, 6 September. Available at: https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/2163010/indonesias-olympic-hopes-rest-legacy-asian-games-people-which. 24.9.2018 (accessed 20 September 2018).Google Scholar
Clark, Marshall, and Juliet, Pietsch. 2014. Indonesia-Malaysia Relations: Cultural Heritage, Politics and Labour Migration. Abingdon and New York: Routledge.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
CNC News. 2018. “Japanese Security System for Asian Games,” 27 June. Available at: http://en.cncnews.cn/news/v_show/72405_Japanese_security_system_for_Asian_games.shtml (accessed 24 July 2018).Google Scholar
Cornelissen, Scarlett. 2009. “A delicate balance: Major sport events and development.” In Sport and International Development, edited by Levermore, Roger, and Beacom, Aaron, 76–97. Basingstoke and New York: Palgrave Macmillan.Google Scholar
Creak, Simon. 2014. “National restoration, regional prestige: The Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar, 2013.” The Journal of Asian Studies 73(4): 853–877.Google Scholar
Deryardli. 2015a. “Alex Noerdin: Asian Games bisa jadi Berkah dan Musibah,” Sriwijaya Post, 29 January. Available at: http://palembang.tribunnews.com/2015/01/29/alex-noerdin-asian-games-bisa-jadi-berkah-dan-musiba (accessed 7 February 2017).Google Scholar
Deryardli. 2015b. “Sumsel Tunjuk Panitia Asian Games Incheon jadi Konsultan,” Sriwijaya Post, 1 March. Available at: http://palembang.tribunnews.com/2015/03/01/sumsel-tunjuk-panitia-asian-games-incheon-jadi-konsultan (accessed 7 February 2017).Google Scholar
Grix, Jonathan, and Donna, Lee. 2013. “Soft power, sports mega-events and emerging states: The lure of the politics of attraction.” Global Society 27(4): 521–536.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grix, Jonathan, Brannagan, Paul Michael, and Barrie, Houlihan. 2015. “Interrogating states’ soft power strategies: A case study of sports mega-events in Brazil and the UK.” Global Society 29(3): 463–479.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grix, Jonathan, and Brannagan, Paul Michael. 2016. “Of mechanisms and myths: Conceptualising states’ ‘soft power’ strategies through sports mega-events.” Diplomacy & Statecraft 27(2): 251–272.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grix, Jonathan, Brannagan, Paul Michael, and Donna, Lee. 2019. Entering the Global Arena: Emerging States, Soft Power Strategies and Sports Mega-Events. Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hall, Michael C. 1992. Hallmark Tourist Events: Impacts, Management, and Planning. Chichester: Wiley.Google Scholar
Hangzhou Daily. 2017. “HAGOC Discusses Preparatory Work with Incheon Experts,” 15 December, posted by Hangzhou 2022 Organising Committee. Available at: http://www.hangzhou2022.cn/2022yyhEn/presscenter/preparationprogress/201712/t20171215_1151.shtml (accessed 13 May 2019).Google Scholar
Hendrawan, Parliza. 2018. “10 Hektar Lahan di samping Wisma Atlet Palembang terbakar, Tempo,” 21 August. Available at: https://sport.tempo.co/read/1119320/10-hektar-lahan-di-samping-wisma-atlet-palembang-terbakar/full&view=ok (accessed 13 May 2019).Google Scholar
Hill, Hal, and Negara, Siwage Dharma. 2019. “Setting the scene: The Indonesian economy in transition - the Jokowi era and beyond.” In The Indonesian Economy in Transition: Policy Challenges in the Jokowi Era and Beyond, edited by Hill, Hal, and Negara, Siwage Dharma, 1–33. Singapore: ISEAS Publishing.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hong, Fan. 2007. “Communist China and the Asian Games 1951–1990: The thirty-nine year struggle for victory.” In Sport, Nationalism and Orientalism: The Asian Games, edited by Hong, Fan, 75–88. Abingdon and New York: Routledge.Google Scholar
Hübner, Stefan. 2016. Pan-Asian Sports and the Emergence of Modern Asia, 1913–74. Singapore: NUS Press.Google Scholar
INASGOC. 2017. “RI ready for Asia's biggest sporting Event,” Jakarta Post, 30 November. Available at: https://www.thejakartapost.com/adv/2017/11/30/ri-ready-for-asias-biggest-sporting-event.html (accessed 21 December 2017).Google Scholar
Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 2018. “Addressing the World Challenges, Minister Conveyed the Diplomacy Focus in 2018,” 9 January. Available at: https://www.kemlu.go.id/en/berita/berita-perwakilan/Pages/Overcoming-the-World-Challenge,-the-Foreign-Minister-Conveyed-the-Focus-of-RI-Diplomacy-2018=.aspx (accessed 13 July 2018).Google Scholar
International Olympic Committee. 1966. Comité International Olympique: Bulletin 96. Lausanne: International Olympic Committee. Available at: http://doc.rero.ch/record/235510/files/1966%20-%20N%C2%B096%20-%20Revue%20Olympique%20-%20fre-eng.pdf (accessed 7 February 2017).Google Scholar
Joo, Yu-Min, Bae, Yooil, and Kassens-Noor, Eva. 2017. Mega-Events and Mega-Ambitions: South Korea's Rise and the Strategic Use of the Big Four Events. London: Palgrave Macmillan.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kemenpora. 2016. “MenkoPMK Puan Maharani: Jangan bermain Anggaran dan Proyek di Event Asian Games 2018,” 11 January. Available at: http://www.kemenpora.go.id/index/preview/berita/10318 (accessed 22 June 2016).Google Scholar
Kuwado, Fabian Januarius. 2018. “Pembukaan Asian Games, Istana benarkan Jokowi Undang Kim Jong Un dan Moon Jae In,” Kompas. 28 June. Available at: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2018/06/28/21051401/pembukaan-asian-games-istana-benarkan-jokowi-undang-kim-jong-un-dan-moon-jae (accessed 24 July 2018).Google Scholar
Laksamana, Nugyasa. 2017. “Ribuan Penonton ramaikan Acara Countdown Asian Games 2018 di Monas,” Kompas, 18 August. Available at: https://olahraga.kompas.com/read/2017/08/18/20190281/ribuan-penonton-ramaikan-acara-countdown-asian-games-2018-di-monas (accessed 23 April 2018).Google Scholar
Lee, Jung Woo. 2017a. “Mega-event scepticism in South Korea: Lessons from the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.” In Sport, Events, Tourism and Regeneration, edited by Wise, Nicholas, and Harris, John, 54–66. Abingdon and New York: Routledge.Google Scholar
Lee, Jung Woo. 2017b. “The politics of sports mega events in South Korea: A diachronic approach.” In Routledge Handbook of Sport and Politics, edited by Bairner, Alan, Kelly, John, and Lee, Jung Woo, 471–482. Abingdon and New York: Routledge.Google Scholar
Lutan, Rusli, and Fan, Hong. 2007. “The politicization of sport: GANEFO – A case study.” In Sport, Nationalism and Orientalism: The Asian Games, edited by Hong, Fan, 22–36. Abingdon and New York: Routledge.Google Scholar
Macdonald, Hamish. 2018. “North and South Korea to field joint Teams at Asian Games in Indonesia,” NK News, 28 June. Available at: https://www.nknews.org/2018/06/north-and-south-korea-to-field-joint-teams-at-asian-games-in-indonesia/ (accessed 26 July 2018).Google Scholar
Manzenreiter, Wolfram. 2010. “The Beijing Games in the Western imagination of China: The weak power of soft power.” Journal of Sport and Social Issues 34(1): 29–48.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mason, Paul H. 2016. “Pencak Silat Seni in West Java, Indonesia.” In The Fighting Art of Pencak Silat and its Music: From Southeast Asian Village to Global Movement, edited by Pätzold, Uwe U., and Mason, Paul H.. 235–262. Leiden: Brill.Google Scholar
Müller, Martin. 2015. “What makes an event a mega-event? Definitions and sizes.” Leisure Studies 34(6): 627–642.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Naik, Shivani. 2018. “Asian Games 2018: Magna Jakarta: Indonesia, Surrogate Hosts After Vietnam Pulled Out, Delivered a Memorable - if not Entirely Perfect - Asian Games,” The Indian Express, 3 September. Available at: https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/asian-games/asian-games-2018-jakarta-palembang-indonesia-5336678/ (accessed 16 June 2020).Google Scholar
Nye, Joseph S. 2004. Soft Power: The Means to Success in World Politics. New York: Public Affairs.Google Scholar
Nye, Joseph S. 2008. “Public diplomacy and soft power.” The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 616(1): 94–109.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Official Website of the Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games. 2018. “Asian Games 2018 Mascots.” Available at: https://en.asiangames2018.id/about/mascots (accessed 9 November 2018).Google Scholar
Patunru, Arianto A. 2019. “Rising economic nationalism in Indonesia.” In The Indonesian Economy in Transition: Policy Challenges in the Jokowi Era and Beyond, edited by Hill, Hal, and Negara, Siwage Dharma, 149–179. Singapore: ISEAS Publishing.Google Scholar
Pigman, Geoffrey Allen, and Rofe, J. Simon. 2014. “Sport and diplomacy: An introduction.” Sport in Society 17(9): 1095–1097.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pour, Julius. 2004. Dari Gelora Bung Karno ke Gelora Bung Karno. Jakarta: Grasindo.Google Scholar
Purba, Kornelius. 2019. “'Pak' Jokowi: This Time You Should Go to New York!,” Jakarta Post, 20 September. Available at: https://www.thejakartapost.com/academia/2019/09/20/pak-jokowi-this-time-you-should-go-to-new-york.html (accessed 16 June 2020).Google Scholar
Purwanto, Heru. 2018. “Japan to Assist Indonesia with Security Equipment, Led Lights during Asian Games,” Antara News, 10 January. Available at: https://en.antaranews.com/news/114213/japan-to-assist-indonesia-with-security-equipment-led-lights-during-asian-games (accessed 25 July 2018).Google Scholar
Renaldi, Erwin, and Tracey, Shelton. 2018. “Thousands Killed as Indonesia Devastated by Nearly 2,000 Natural Disasters in 2018,” ABC News, 27 December. Available at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-28/the-five-most-deadly-natural-disasters-in-indonesia-this-year/10668480 (accessed 14 May 2019).Google Scholar
Ritchie, Brent J.R. 1984. “Assessing the impact of hallmark events: Conceptual and research issues.” Journal of Travel Research 23(1): 2–11.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roberts, Christopher B., and Widyaningsih, Erlina. 2015. “Indonesian leadership in ASEAN: Mediation, agency and extra-regional diplomacy.” In Indonesia's Ascent: Power, Leadership, and the Regional Order, edited by Roberts, Christopher B., Habir, Ahmad D., and Sebastian, Leonard C., 264–286. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.Google Scholar
Roche, Maurice. 2000. Mega-Events and Modernity: Olympics and Expos in the Growth of Global Culture. London and New York: Routledge.Google Scholar
Rowe, David, and Lee, Jung Woo. 2018. “The Winter Olympics and the Two Koreas: How Sport Diplomacy Could Save the World,” The Conversation, 10 January. Available at: http://theconversation.com/the-winter-olympics-and-the-two-koreas-how-sport-diplomacy-could-save-the-world-89769 (accessed 14 May 2018).Google Scholar
Sheany. 2018. “Indonesia's 2018 Foreign Policy to Focus on Asean and Indo-Pacific Region,” Jakarta Globe, 9 January. Available at: https://jakartaglobe.id/context/indonesias-2018-foreign-policy-focus-asean-indo-pacific-region (accessed 12 May 2019).Google Scholar
Shimazu, Naoko. 2014. “Diplomacy as theatre: Staging the Bandung Conference of 1955.” Modern Asian Studies 48(1): 225–252.Google Scholar
Siagian, Tiodora Hadumaon, Purhadi, Suhartono, and Hamonangan, Ritonga. 2014. “Social vulnerability to natural hazards in Indonesia: Driving factors and policy implications.” Natural Hazards 70(2): 1603–1617.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Singh, Ajitpal. 2017. “Sunday Chat: Indonesia Aims to Put on an Unforgettable Show,” New Straits Times, 18 June. Available at: https://www.nst.com.my/sports/others/2017/06/250055/sunday-chat-indonesia-aims-put-unforgettable-show (accessed 18 July 2017).Google Scholar
Straits Times. 2018. “Asian Games: Indonesia Welcomes Continent for 18th Asiad with Spectacular Opening Ceremony,” 18 August. Available at: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/asian-games-indonesia-welcomes-continent-for-18th-asiad-with-spectacular-opening-ceremony (accessed 20 September 2018).Google Scholar
Times of India. 2018. “Asian Games 2018 Begin with Explosive Opening Ceremony in Jakarta,” 18 August. Available at: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/asian-games/asian-games-2018-begin-with-explosive-opening-ceremony-in-jakarta/articleshow/65454521.cms (accessed 20 September 2018).Google Scholar
Trotier, Friederike. 2015. “Strengthening the Muslim community in Indonesia and beyond: The 2013 Islamic Solidarity Games in Palembang.” Studia Islamika 22(1): 65–96.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Trotier, Friederike. 2016. “The legacy of the Games of the New Emerging Forces and Indonesia's relationship with the International Olympic Committee.” International Journal of the History of Sport 33(12): 1321–1340.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Trotier, Friederike. Forthcoming. Nation, City, Arena: Sports Events, Nation-Building and City Politics in Indonesia. Copenhagen: NIAS Press.Google Scholar
Tzanelli, Rodanthi. 2018. Mega-Events as Economies of the Imagination: Creating Atmosphere for Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. Abingdon and New York: Routledge.Google Scholar
Utomo, Ario Bimo. 2018. “Can the Asian Games Promote Peace?,” The Conversation, 17 August. Available at: http://theconversation.com/can-the-asian-games-promote-peace-100461 (accessed 13 May 2019).Google Scholar
Vatvani, Chandni. 2018. “Indonesian President Widodo Pledges Haze-free 2018,” Channelnews Asia, 6 February. Available at: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/indonesian-president-widodo-pledges-haze-free-2018-9933386 (accessed 23 April 2018).Google Scholar
Wanto, Adri, and Sebastian, Leonard C.. 2019. “Sarungan vs Cingkrangan: Elections & Contestations within Indonesian Islam,” RSIS Commentary 107, 28 May. Available at: www.rsis.edu.sg (accessed 16 June 2020).Google Scholar
Warburton, Eve. 2016. “Jokowi and the new developmentalism.” Bulletin of Indonesian Economic Studies 52(3): 297–320.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilson, Lee. 2015. Martial Arts and the Body Politic in Indonesia. Leiden: Brill.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wright, Stephen. 2018. “Asian Games Stir Indonesia's Pride, Boost Jokowi's Campaign,” Washington Post, 2 September. Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/asian-games-stir-indonesias-pride-boost-jokowis-campaign/2018/09/02/d6805206-af11-11e8-8b53-50116768e499_story.html?utm_term=.934f05e757bb (accessed 24 September 2018).Google Scholar
Xinhua. 2018. “Full text of China-Indonesia Joint Statement,” China Daily, 8 May. Available at: http://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201805/08/WS5af14611a3105cdcf651ca3f_1.html (accessed 13 May 2019).Google Scholar
Xue, Wenting, and Luo, Qing. 2013. “People's Daily: An evolutionary narrative on Asia in its coverage of the Asian Games.” International Journal of the History of Sport 30(10): 1037–1047.CrossRefGoogle Scholar