FULCRUM

APLN member Hoang Thi Ha co-wrote a commentary with Cha Hae Won that contextualises Southeast Asian countries within the Global South discourse and examines where they align with the characteristics generally associated with the Global South and where they diverge.

The resurgence of the Global South discourse has magnified the voices of developing nations, including those in Southeast Asia, enabling them to air their grievances and advocate for their interests more assertively. However, despite the general normative alignment within the Global South in the demand for a more “democratic and equitable international order”, the realities of global politics and economy are far more intricate, diverse and nuanced than the simplistic North-South binary. This complexity is particularly pronounced in Southeast Asia. In this regard, Indonesia presents an intriguing case. On the one hand, it is the most vocal ASEAN country in pushing the Global South discourse for its own interests. President Joko Widodo asserted, “Global South nations must have the opportunity to export more than just raw materials, unlike during the colonial era”, to make the case for Indonesia’s development of downstream industries in the EV supply chain. A senior Indonesian diplomat lambasted the EU’s deforestation regulations, which impact Indonesian timber and palm oil exports, as “recolonisation of the Global South”. Foreign minister Retno Marsudi actively highlighted the needs and grievances of the Global South at many international engagements. On the other hand, Indonesia has applied for accession to the OECD, hoping that OECD standards will serve as benchmarks and best practices, and that OECD membership will provide peer support for its development. Indonesia’s hedging of its bets between the Global South and North illustrates the Southeast Asian DNA of pragmatism and inclusiveness. The success formula for Southeast Asian countries has historically been their ability to integrate into and bridge between different value systems rather than ideologically subscribing to a particular bloc, especially one that is as heterogeneous as the Global South.

The original article can be accessed here.

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