A Civil (Law) Path to Regional Peace

• Author: Pranoto Iskandar
• Position: Editorial Board, The Institute for Migrant Rights
• Pages: 467-469

e Indonesian Journal of International & Comparative Law

ISSN: 2338-7602; E-ISSN: 2338-770X

http://www.ijil.org

© 2021 e Institute for Migrant Rights Press

A Civil (lAw) PAth to RegionAl

PeACe

Pranoto Iskandar

Editorial Board, e Institute for Migrant Rights

It is one of the tritest things to say that Indonesia is living in an age of

ever-present precarious geopolitics. One of the reasons is the increas-

ing antagonism between the United States and its allies representing

the old guard preserving the capitalistic-liberal order and China and its

ilk that were in cahoots over resuscitating the long shunned etatism as

the guiding principle in international relations.

As human history has conrmed, whenever new contenders for

global dominance emerge, it is very likely that war will ensue. By

recognizing what is known as “the ucydides trap,” it is imperative for

Indonesia to creatively seek out regional peace in every possible way as

the global order bifurcates. In response, this is a Promethean thought

that might be worth pondering.

First, Indonesia must act in unity with other like-minded

neighboring nations to storm out of the ucydides trap. Being up

against the wall, many, if not all, Indonesia’s neighboring nations, who

are also members of a talking shop called the Association Southeast

Asian Nations (“ASEAN”) seem to have recognized the necessity of

joint eort. Whether they recognize it wholeheartedly or not, the fact

that they have come to a similar conclusion to unify, should suce

in suggesting that they recognize there is a chance to get out of being

caught in the crossre.

Unfortunately, it is not entirely clear that the emerging “we’re in

this together” sense has been materialized in steering the region’s

dealing with others. Despite the recent adoption of ASEAN Charter,

the “we’re in this together” sense in reality is still inexplicit at best and