Indonesia finds itself at a pivotal juncture as the world transitions into a new order, a dynamic that necessitates the nation to actively shape its direction, according to Dino Patti Djalal, Founder and President of the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI). Addressing the Conference on Indonesian Foreign Policy (CIFP) 2025, themed “The Next World Order,” held at Kasablanka Hall, Jakarta, on Saturday (29/11), Djalal urged a collective understanding of this profound reality. “Every time the world changes, Indonesia is impacted and becomes part of that change. The world is entering a new order; let us briefly digest this reality. The next world order is before our eyes,” he stated in his opening speech.
The former Indonesian Ambassador to the United States identified at least four primary drivers propelling the world towards this new global arrangement. These include a significant shift in the distribution of global power, the increasing fragility of the rule-based international system, the weakening of multilateral institutions, and a global trajectory that is progressively veering off course.
Djalal highlighted the dramatic growth of the United Nations, noting that while 51 nations signed the UN Charter in 1945, the membership is projected to swell to 193 countries by 2025—nearly a fourfold increase. Despite this growth, he critically observed the collapse of the rule-based international order, particularly evident in the last two years since the Russia-Ukraine war. He pointed out a selective application of global regulations, where “developed nations will only follow these rules if they benefit them. There are double standards and inconsistency in the implementation of world rules.”
Furthermore, Djalal argued that the UN Security Council has repeatedly failed to address pressing security issues due to the veto power held by its five permanent members. He cited their response, or lack thereof, to the genocide carried out by Israel in Gaza, Palestine, as a stark example. Multilateral institutions, too, are struggling, hampered by insufficient funding and complex geopolitical challenges. “We are losing our moral compass; the line between right and wrong is increasingly blurred,” he lamented.
Momentum for Indonesia as a Middle Power
In this emerging global landscape, Djalal believes that “middle powers” such as Indonesia, South Africa, Australia, and Pakistan are poised to play a decisive role. He envisioned “The Next World Order” as a future where the Global South actively contributes to building a better world, particularly by championing multilateralism and boosting financial contributions to multilateral organizations. While many of these middle powers possess substantial financial resources, Djalal noted that none of the top ten largest donors to the UN currently come from the Global South.
This presents an opportune moment for Indonesia to step forward as a primary architect or designer of the upcoming world order. “Indonesia’s diplomatic strength lies in the power of its ideas and idealism,” Djalal asserted. He emphasized that Indonesia, leveraging its memberships in ASEAN and the G20, coupled with its strong reputation for multilateral innovation, must capitalize on this unique historical juncture to assert its influence on the global stage.
Summary
Dino Patti Djalal, Founder and President of FPCI, states that Indonesia must actively shape the world’s new order, which is defined by a shift in global power, increasing fragility of the rule-based international system, and weakening multilateral institutions. He highlights the selective application of global rules by developed nations and the failures of the UN Security Council, citing issues like the Israel-Gaza conflict as examples of this systemic breakdown.
Djalal sees this as an opportune moment for “middle powers” like Indonesia to play a decisive role in building a better world, especially by championing multilateralism and increasing financial contributions to global organizations. Indonesia, leveraging its diplomatic strength in ideas and idealism through platforms like ASEAN and the G20, is uniquely positioned to become a key architect of the next world order.
