Southeast Asian States’ Approaches to Peacekeeping and Conflict Resolution

Abstract

This paper conducts a comparative analysis of three cases - Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam - to examine the distinctive features of Southeast Asian states’ involvement in peacekeeping. These cases provide representative insights into the motivations and experiences of regional states that joined UN peacekeeping operations at different historical junctures: Indonesia in the 1950s, Thailand in the 1990s, and Vietnam in the 2000s. By identifying the common and unique aspects of this engagement, the authors argue that Southeast Asian nations’ approaches to peacekeeping are deeply rooted in the values that underpin their foreign and domestic policies. Appealing to these values, Southeast Asian states contribute conceptual innovations to existing peacekeeping models, which are predominantly based on Western perspectives. By generalizing the peacekeeping experiences of Southeast Asian states, this paper fills a gap between broader publications that focus on Asian peacekeeping practices and single-country studies. The research underscores that Southeast Asian states, following a challenging period of decolonization and nation-building in the framework imposed by the Westphalian international relations system, have been trying to infuse their own approaches into the Westernized realm of international interaction. Since the 1950s, several regional states have participated in UN peacekeeping operations. The involvement of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in resolving the Cambodian conflict in the late 1980s and the Thailand - Cambodia settlement in 2008-2011 has stimulated the development of regional peacekeeping practices. By contributing to peacekeeping operations, Southeast Asian states aspire to enhance their regional and even global influence. In certain instances, their engagement in peacekeeping has ideological, cultural or religious motivations, or stems from specific foreign and domestic policy considerations.

Eskalasi Konflik Palestine-Israel di Tahun 2023: Perspektif Kebijakan Luar Negeri Indonesia

“…Ada beberapa poin yang disampaikan, diantaranya (1) Israel bukan pertama kalinya melakukan aksi provokasi yang dapat memperburuk stabilitas dan situasi keamanan di Kawasan; (2) Indonesia mengecam aksi provokasi Menteri Israel yang mengunjungi Kompleks Al-Aqsa tersebut dan mengatakan kalau hal itu merupakan bentuk pelanggaran hukum internasional dan status quo Jerusalem; (3) Indonesia mendesak Israel untuk menghormati status quo Jerusalem, lalu menghentikan segala tindakan yang bisa semakin memperkeruh kondisi keamanan di Kawasan; (4) Indonesia juga kembali menekankan pentingnya proses perdamaian Palestina-Israel berdasarkan "Two State Solution" sesuai parameter internasional. Vershinina (2023) berpendapat jika program peacekeeping negara-negara Asia Tenggara berakar kuat pada nilai-nilai yang mendasari kebijakan luar negeri dan dalam negeri mereka. Dengan menerapkan nilai-nilai ini, negara-negara Asia Tenggara termasuk Indonesia diharapkan bisa menyumbangkan inovasi konseptual pada model program peacekeeping yang selama ini dijalankan dengan menggunakan perspektif Barat.…”

“…Hal ini juga berbanding lurus dengan teks pembukaan UUD 1945 sebagai konstitusi dan sumber hukum tertinggi yang membicarakan tentang penghapusan penjajahan di atas dunia. Vershinina (2023) juga menegaskan jika sejak tahun 1950-an, beberapa negara Asia Tenggara termasuk Indonesia juga telah berpartisipasi dalam operasi peacekeeping program dari PBB. Keterlibatan Indonesia dalam menyelesaikan konflik Thailand-Kamboja pada tahun 2008-2011 dan konflik di Kamboja pada tahun 1980-an telah mendorong perkembangan praktik pemeliharaan perdamaian regional.…”