| The Asian Financial Crisis that broke out in1997intensified the Indonesianinternal conflicts caused by long term domestic corruption and other problems. As aresult, Suharto was forced to step down after thirty years of dictatorship, whichushered Indonesia into an era of democratic reform.From the Habib period to the Susilo era, Indonesia implemented a series ofreform measures. First, the amendment to the constitution perfected Indonesianpolices including checks and balances and the separation of powers; therefore,citizens in Indonesia gained more extensive political rights. Second, various politicalparties emerged one after another since the ban on political parties was lifted. Third,the removal of the "dual function" had led the army on to the occupational road. TheIndonesia’s democratic reform also had great influences on its diplomaticdecision-making mechanism. In the dynamic process, the decision-making processbecame more scientific and reasonable; and factors affecting the process diversified.Meanwhile, as for the static results, the content of the decision-making reflectedits democratic values, and policies manifested the Islamic characteristics.After the democratic reform, Indonesia’s diplomatic decision-making mechanismassumes its own characteristics. For example, the president conducts thecreative diplomacy; the Congress becomes the main restricting power of theadministrative organs; political Islamic forces continue to strengthen; and politicalfigures with military background begin to participate in politics through democraticelection. All of these play big parts in the decision-making. However, there are stillsome problems in Indonesia’s diplomatic decision-making mechanism. Only byconstantly improving the democratic system and highlighting both Islamic anddemocratic values in its diplomatic policies, can Indonesia succeed in increasing itsinternational influence as well as acting as the bridge between the Islamic world andthe Western world. |
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