A Comparative Study of Iran and Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Policy Objectives in Indonesia

Year 2019, , 121 - 147, 30.06.2019

Muhammad Ravi

https://doi.org/10.33201/iranian.547988

Abstract

Looking from a geographical perspective, Indonesia and
the two most influential Islamic countries that promotes two major
denominations of Islam, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, are located in different parts
of the world. However, holding the ground for the majority of Muslim in the world
makes Indonesia a suitable place for Iran and Saudi Arabia to exercise their
influence. Since Iran and Saudi Arabia have a set of contradictory ideologies,
the need to expand their influence is competitive. This article seeks to make a
comparative study between Iranian and Saudi Arabian's foreign policy objectives
in Indonesia. The article starts by analyzing the foreign policy objectives of
the two countries in Indonesia. Then, a comparative study is made between them.
The main theory used in this work is based on neorealism to ascertain the
objectives of Iran and Saudi Arabia. The article uses secondary data that have
been used in the literature. The article concludes that although these
objectives have started becoming more economical, the religious aspect
continues to play a dominant role in the foreign policy objectives of the two
countries.

Keywords

Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Foreign Policy, Objectives, Ideology

Endonezya’da İran ve Suudi Arabistan Dış Politika Hedeflerinin Karşılaştırmalı Bir Çalışması

Abstract

Coğrafi bir perspektiften bakıldığında Endonezya ile iki büyük
İslam mezhebini destekleyen İran ve Suudi Arabistan dünyanın farklı
bölgelerinde bulunmaktadır. Coğrafi uzaklığa rağmen dünyadaki Müslümanların
çoğunluğunu barındıran Endonezya, İran ve Suudi Arabistan'ın dini etkilerini
kullanmaları için uygun bir yer olmaktadır. İran ve Suudi Arabistan bir dizi
karşıt ideolojiye sahip olmaları sebebiyle siyasal etkilerini genişletme çabasındadırlar.
Bu makale, İran ve Suudi Arabistan’ın Endonezya’daki dış politika hedeflerini karşılaştırmalı
bir şekilde incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır.  Makale iki ülkenin Endonezya'daki
dış politika hedeflerini analiz ederek başlamaktadır. Daha sonra, aralarında
karşılaştırmalı bir çalışma yapılmaktadır. Makalede geçmiş literatürlerde
kullanılan ikincil veriler kullanılmıştır. Teorik yaklaşım olarak İran ve Suudi
Arabistan'ın hedeflerini belirlemek için neorealizm perspektifi temel
alınmıştır. Makalenin sonucunda ülkelerin hedeflerinin daha çok ekonomi kaynaklı
olmasına rağmen zaman içinde dini yönün iki ülkenin dış politika hedeflerinde
baskın bir rol oynamaya başladığı sonucuna varılmıştır.

Keywords

Endonezya, Suudi Arabistan, Dış Politika, İdeoloji, İran

References

• BibliographyA. Ostovar, ''Sectarian Dilemmas in Iranian Foreign Policy: When Strategy and Identity Politics Collide'', Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, (2016)Amanda Kovacs, " Saudi Arabia Exporting Salafi Education and Radicalizing Indonesia’s Muslims", German Institute of Global and Area Studies, N7, ISSN 2196-3940 (2014): 7 https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/184727/gf_international_1407.pdfB. Hourcade, "Iran against the Sunni encirclement", F. Burgat and B. Paoli, No Spring for Syria, The Discovery, (2013) ParisD. Susilo, Iran's Nuclear Resolution for Victory for Indonesia, The Jakarta Post, March 29, 2007.Mansur Juned and Mohamd Hery, “Revitalizing Partnership between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia: Moderate Moslem’s Perspective In Promoting Peace and Cooperation for Mutual Benefits’’ , Proceedings of 91st The IIER International Conference, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,12th-13thJanuary2017,ISBN:978-93-86291-85-1 http://www.worldresearchlibrary.org/up_proc/pdf/635-1487394027131-134.pdfSiwage Negara, “The Impact of Saudi King’s visit to Indonesia’’ ISEAS ISSUE: 2017 No.16ISSN2335-6677 https://www.iseas.edu.sg/images/pdf/ISEAS_Perspective_2017_16.pdfThierry and Clément, "Iran's Multipolar Agreements Russian and Asian Aspects of Tehran's Foreign Policy", In Foreign Policy 2007/4 (Winter), pages 875-887Yon Machmudi, "Cultural Cooperation between Indonesia and Iran: Challenges and Opportunities". Academia.edu.Yon Machmudi, Saudi Arabian Foreign Policy Conflict and Cooperation, I.B. Tauris (London: 2016), 290-304
• Internet SourcesAmmar Belhimer, "A lost funds Indonesia: Wahhabi overdose," (2017) Algeria News. See https://www.lesoirdalgerie.com/articles/2017/03/14/article.php?sid=210673&cid=8D. Susilo, Iran's Nuclear Resolution for Victory for Indonesia, The Jakarta Post, March 29, 2007.GlobeScan, "Views of China and India Slide in Global Poll, While UK's Ratings Climb", BBC World Service (May 22, 2013)Krithika, Varagur, “Iran-Funded Center a lifeline for the Jakarta’s marginalized Shia Minority”, VOA, (October, 2017) Retrieved December, 2018 Maysaroh, ''Indonesia and Iran strengthen cooperation'', Voice of Indonesia, (2018) Retrieved December 2018 http://voinews.id/french/index.php/component/k2/item/388-l-indonesie-et-l-iran-renforcent-leur-cooperation Priyambodo RH, "RI-Iran relations have no limit", Antara News. Retrieved 3 June 2013.Seehttps://www.cairn.info/revue-les-cahiers-de-l-orient-2008-4-page-15.htm retrieved February, 2019See The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jan/13/saudi-arabia-treatment-foreign-workers retrieved February, 2019Seehttps://www.lecourrier.vn/indonesie-et-arabie-saoudite-signent-onze-accords-de-cooperation/372718.html retrieved February, 2019