Public Opinion And Foreign Policy-making In Indonesia: A Case Study Of Jakarta-bandung High-speed Rail Project(2008-2015)

This thesis wants to focus around topic Indonesia foreign policy-making also answering the research question about to what extent the public opinion influence foreign policy-making in Indonesia through the case of Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail project,which results in the foreign policy decision,to nominated China as a project partner.This thesis is explaining to how public opinion in Indonesia is affecting its foreign policy decision-making.Which,resulting in its foreign policy output.This thesis find that public opinion has influence in foreign policy decision-making process,in the case of JakartaBandung High-Speed Rail Project.The society and media relate each other consequently influenced government,and its foreign policy decision-making process.This thesis employs Indonesian outlook approach towards its foreign policy outcome to cooperate with China for significant infrastructure and strategic project.The use of Indonesian outlook means this thesis explains the foreign policy outcome from Indonesian point of view.The main reasons to employ Indonesian outlook due to limited numbers of research that analyze and the issue of Indonesian foreign policy outcome from domestic political environment more specifically the influence of public opinion in the subject of foreign policy-making process.In analyzing the research problem,this thesis is using the qualitative method.Analysis of the research conducted by collecting data by the case study studied.The forms of data are generally in the way of scientific documents and literature for supporting research.The materials and documentation took in the type of secondary data collected through textbooks and internet resources.Also,this thesis applies the theory of public opinion to grasp the process and its influence in foreign policy decision-making.Theory and methodology is the based foundation for this thesis.In chapter one,of this thesis elaborate and explain the theory and methodology used.Also,the brief background of the case study.The literature review showed the gap between discourse on the topic of Sino-Indonesia relations and the theory and methodology used in this thesis.Chapter two focused on Indonesian domestic politics,and show the political changes in the early 2000 s.Indonesia is one country that adopted democracy into the national political system,although the principle of democracy just been practice over past 20 years after Suharto regime was a collapse in 1998.It is evident that 1998 is the year that has been a transition of the political system in Indonesia,from the semi-authoritarian regime in Suharto “New Order” to “Reformation” following that.Consequently,the rule of public opinion became more critical as government consideration before making a policy decision.This chapter introduces a brief background of Indonesian democracy after the new order period.Also,show the society role in influencing public opinion.Chapter three consist of foreign policy decision-making process and public opinion in Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono period.The initiation of the project started during the SBY period,Japan is a strong candidate to project partner,but the foreign policy process didn't make its output in SBY period.Several factors can explain why in this case the input of policy options do not make its policy output.These factors according to the analyzing tools are an internationalist tendency in a domestic political environment of Indonesia at the SBY period,does not support SBY policy because he failed to achieve Indonesia strong standing position in the international community caused SBY a Million Friends Zero Enemy policy.Accordingly this issue of high-speed train-project not essential enough to get attention in new media,there is another domestic political issue in more significant scale which gets new media users attention.So,traditional media which based on an elite player they role in influencing public opinion.Besides,the elite does not really affiliate with the incumbent government,so media is divided by supporting and opposing the government agenda which relate to elite interest.Then in chapter four of this thesis is consist of foreign policy decision-making process and public opinion in Joko Widodo period.Although the initiation of the project started during the SBY period,the foreign policy decision has done during Jokowi period.Previously Japan is a strong candidate to project partner,but the foreign policy output has changed to nominated China as a project partner.In this case,occur that policy option has changed when the policy issued.Finally,in chapter five show the result and findings of this thesis.The result of this thesis finds the evidence that public opinion has influence foreign policy-making,during the Joko Widodo administration isolationist society wants the national economic development.Regarding the case of Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Rail project,society punished the previous government,by not re-electing it.Consequently,the new isolationist establish and decision has made.The media is owned by an Interest Group(Elite),which majority of them inline with new isolationist agenda.Media act based on elite interest,and work by framing the news broadcast either in negative,positive,or neutral manners.