The Politicians

This chapter investigates the role of politicians in the context of extradition cases between Australia and Indonesia. Using Robert Putnam’s metaphor of a ‘two-level game’ to model their behaviour, it shows how politicians on both sides pander to their domestic audiences at the expense of the cooperative relationship. In contrast to the common policy interests of bureaucrats, politicians from the two countries are often at odds because of their differing political interests. In particular, the extradition relationship has been continually frustrated by concerns among Indonesian politicians that Australia derives a greater benefit from the relationship. Compounding these concerns are misunderstandings about the differing extradition processes of the two countries.