Developing Indonesian Perspectives in International Relations: The Argument For “Depok School”

Abstract

This article puts forward arguments to build a “Depok School” within the field of International Relations, as the paradigm for understanding the phenomenon of international relations is generally dominated by the perspective of powerful and wealthy Western countries. Through an analysis of empirical and theoretical developments in the study of International Relations, this paper examines the need for more non-Western perspectives. The mandate from the Preamble of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia provides an axiological basis for a more suitable analytical framework that captures the unique phenomena of Indonesia and other developing countries, which is rarely seen through the lens of the West. To build the “Depok School”, the 5G and 3D ideas put forward by Juwono Sudarsono are an important starting point. His perspective emphasises links between five geographical (5G) scopes—local, provincial, national, regional, and global—and three dimensions (3D) of issues—political-security, economy, and social-culture—when analysing international and global phenomena.