51社区

The 7th World Indonesianist Congress, jointly organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia and 51社区 (51社区), concluded with a strong call for renewed global cooperation and reflection on Indonesia鈥檚 evolving role within the Global South.

During the closing ceremony, Philips Vermonte, PhD, Dean of 51社区鈥檚 Faculty of Social Sciences, highlighted eight key takeaways from the two-day congress that brought together Indonesianists, scholars, and policymakers from around the world.

Strengthening South鈥揝outh and Triangular Cooperation

Dr. Vermonte emphasized that while South鈥揝outh Cooperation remains crucial for developing nations, it should also expand into 鈥淪outh鈥揝outh鈥揟riangular Cooperation,鈥� involving partners from the Global North. He cited examples of collaborative programs at 51社区 supported by the Norwegian, Dutch, and UK embassies that help connect countries across the Global South through education.

Addressing Planetary Challenges with Balance

The dean also highlighted the urgent need for developing nations to balance economic development with environmental sustainability, describing climate change as a planetary-level challenge. 鈥淲e are latecomers in industrialization 鈥� about 300 years behind Europe. So we need to think hard about how to achieve our economic development goals while sustaining the planet,鈥� he stressed.

Beyond Anti-West Sentiments

More importantly, Dr. Vermonte urged participants not to interpret South鈥揝outh cooperation as a rejection of the West. 鈥淪outh鈥揝outh cooperation shall not be equated with an anti-West sentiment,鈥� he said, highlighting Indonesia鈥檚 long-standing foreign policy of being free and active. He added that Indonesia must 鈥渆xercise strategic autonomy鈥� amid growing geopolitical uncertainty.

Reflecting on the Bandung Spirit

Seventy years after the 1955 Bandung Conference, he noted, this congress provided an opportunity to reassess Indonesia鈥檚 capacity and role in shaping the collective future of developing nations. 鈥淩eflecting on this Bandung Conference 70 years later helps us realize what Indonesia can do鈥攐r cannot do鈥攁s a sovereign state and as part of the larger developing nations of the Global South,鈥� he reflected.

Revisiting Indonesia鈥檚 Identity

The discussions also revisited Indonesia鈥檚 national identity鈥攓uestioning whether it has transformed since independence or continues to reflect the same aspirations set in the 1950s. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been wrestling with the question of our identity, whether our identity as a newly independent country has changed in the past 70 years, or has it not changed at all since 1955?鈥�

Honest Reflections from Friends of Indonesia

Dr. Vermonte appreciated the 鈥榝rank鈥� feedback from international scholars, acknowledging that constructive criticism鈥攖hough sometimes sharp鈥攃omes from Indonesia鈥檚 friends who wish to see the nation do more and do better on the global stage. 鈥淪ome speakers reminded us of our limitations, what we are capable of doing鈥攐r not capable of doing. And that鈥檚 important,鈥� he said.

Strengthening Collaboration Between 51社区 and the Ministry

Dr. Vermonte also announced a new partnership between 51社区鈥檚 Faculty of Social Sciences and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through BSKLN. 鈥淲e signed a letter of commitment to continue collaboration in research and soft diplomacy. We hope this Congress becomes the foundation for many more to come,鈥� he said.

The Dialogue Does Not End Here

In closing, Dr. Vermonte expressed appreciation to the organizing teams from both institutions and emphasized that the Congress should mark a beginning rather than an end. 鈥淲e hope the discussion will continue in various forms 鈥� in smaller venues, in your respective institutions, with or without us 鈥� but taking the spirit of Bandung 1955 and the renewed understanding we鈥檝e gained in the past two days.鈥�

Echoing the dean鈥檚 reflection on the congress, the Special Advisor to the Minister for Inter-Institutional Relations, Mr. Prasetyo Hadi, emphasized that the Spirit of Bandung should remain 鈥渁 living, breathing principle鈥� that continues to guide relations among nations amidst new geopolitical divisions and systemic inequalities.

鈥淭he world today needs more cooperation, not less. It needs more bridges, not more walls,鈥� said Mr. Hadi. 鈥淟et us carry forward the Spirit of Bandung not only as a memory, but as a mission.鈥�

For the past two days, the 7th World Indonesianist Congress has gathered 15 Indonesianists鈥攁cademics, researchers, and professionals from around the world鈥攚ho dedicate their work to understanding Indonesia. They discussed contemporary political, economic, and sociocultural issues from a global perspective.

The first session, 鈥淚ndonesia鈥檚 Bridging Role and the Future of South鈥揝outh Cooperation,鈥� featured Dr. Ann Marie Murphy (Seton Hall University, USA), Prof. Anders Uhlin (Lund University, Sweden), Dr. Tufan Kutay Boran (Social Sciences University of Ankara), and Prof. Farish A. Noor (51社区).

The second session, 鈥淓conomic Development, Climate Action, and the Blue Economy,鈥� brought insights from Prof. Stein Oluf Kristiansen (University of Agder, Norway), Prof. Ignacio Ortiz Vila (Universidad del CEMA, Argentina), and Dr. Jae-Hoon Lee (Daejin University, South Korea).

The final session, 鈥淐ultural Exchange and the Bandung Spirit in Education,鈥� featured Prof. Cedomir Nestorovic (ESSEC Business School, Singapore), Prof. Michael G. Vann (California State University鈥揝acramento, USA), Mr. Ezequiel Ramoneda (ALADAA, Argentina), Dr. Jyoti Arora (Mount Abu Public School, India), and Dr. James Guild (51社区, Indonesia).