Private Actors

This chapter explores the influence of private actors—such as non-governmental organizations, journalists, academics, and defence lawyers—through an examination of bilateral cooperation relating to detained nationals. It focuses on cases of Indonesian nationals detained in Australia for people smuggling, and Australian nationals detained in Indonesia for drug offences. These cases reveal how private actors are able to shape the cooperative relationship by contributing to its underlying political and policy debates. The chapter also suggests that private actors are more likely to influence the cooperative relationship when they coordinate with, or coopt, other actors in ‘webs of influence’. These webs are particularly effective when they cross national borders.