Democracy, Diplomacy, Geopolitics and the Future of Southeast Asia

As democracy retreats around the world, will autocracy spread throughout Southeast Asia?  How can countries of Southeast Asia navigate the complex dynamics between protection and promotion of democratic principles and human rights on the one hand, and the principle of non-interference in internal affairs on the other?  How can they navigate the similarly complex dynamic between protection and promotion of democratic principles and human rights on the one hand, and the geopolitical tensions and rivalries currently prevailing in the region?   Does ASEAN matter? Few are better positioned by knowledge and experience than former Indonesian foreign minister Marty Natalegawa to address these and related questions.

 

In addition to his productive record as Indonesia’s foreign minister (2009-2014), Dr. R. M. Marty M. Natalegawa has served his country in multiple high-level diplomatic positions, including as ambassador to the UN and the UK and as his foreign ministry’s Director General for ASEAN Cooperation. He holds a PhD from ANU, an MPhil from the University of Cambridge, and a BSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science.