ben bland ears

Put Southeast Asia at the centre of the UKs Indo-Pacific Tilt. The former Department for International Development has a strong reputation in the regionand the merged FCDO should look to continue building on this. Meanwhile, Jokowi transferred formal responsibility for generating investment from the co-ordinating ministry for economic affairs to the co-ordinating ministry for maritime affairs, led by his fixer-in-chief Luhut Pandjaitan. But while this king of infrastructure has made progress in reducing Indonesia's massive infrastructure deficit, Bland argues that Indonesia is still riddled with heterodox economic thinking which defies the laws of economic competitiveness. If the situation in the South China Sea escalates, then the cost of insurance for sea freight will rise, and it will be bad for their international business. 20. It is not a substitute for much-needed economic reforms or a consistent trade policy, but it has no doubt helped the country maintain a decent flow of foreign investment and lending, allowing it to sustain growth and cover the annual budget deficits. Then RusShow moresia invaded Ukraine, and businesses around the world confronted a decision on whether to pull out of the Russian market. Indonesia, sadly, is littleknown in the UK. There is room to do more with Indonesia on security, both internal and external,coordinating with close UK partners like the US and Australia, which have extensiverelationships and cooperation programmes across the law enforcement, counter-terrorism,maritime and military domains. He has cancelled several foreign trips at late notice because of domestic political difficulties and, when he does go overseas, he can be a temperamental traveller. Lowy Institute. It was a name chosen for that reason at that time and it served its purpose well. The resignation of the ageing president last week shows the National League for Democracy needs leadership renewal. EastEnders and Waterloo Road pulled from BBC One tonight, Someone played 'porn noises' as a prank live on BBC during Wolves vs Liverpool, Ken Bruce quits BBC Radio 2 after 31 years - but don't worry, he's taking PopMaster. Why spend valuable diplomatic capital on a problem that did not affect Indonesia directly? Jokowi, pictured with his wife, Iriana, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan, is interested in attracting investment and that has shaped his relationship with Beijing.AP. Lowy Institute, Screen time in Palu, Central Sulawesi Province, Indonesia (Basri Marzuki/NurPhoto via Getty Images). More importantly, he thought that, just as with democracy, foreign policy should be put to work to boost his overriding obsessions: the economy, infrastructure and his personal bank of political capital. 374 likes. The UK has a substantial pool of political, economic and socialcapital in Southeast Asia but the battle for influence is heating up. However, he later followed SBYs lead in implementing an unofficial moratorium on executions to stem the outside pressure he was generating. My first book,Generation HK: Seeking Identity in Chinas Shadow (Penguin Random House, 2017), was astudy of the young Hong Kongers pushing back against Beijings pressures on the city. Whats the bid for this rarest of Bugattis? Something went wrong, please try again later. Now their great-grandson is a BBC presenter who announced on Thursday he would be known as Ben Boulos - taking his maternal family's name to reflect his Sudanese-Egyptian heritage. As a large developing nation, and the worlds fourth most populous, Indonesias voiceis important and the UK should listen to Jakartas concerns and cooperate on areas ofmutual interest, such as reform of the WTO. WebView the profiles of people named Ben Bland. Early in Joko Widodos presidency, Chinas assertive behaviour in the South China Sea presented him with one of his first major foreign policy challenges. He has no strong sense of where he wants Indonesia to go. At the start of his second term, Jokowi appointed Mahendra Siregar, a respected diplomat and former finance official, as deputy foreign minister, with a specific focus on economic diplomacy. 39. Ben Bland - the south-east Asia expert - congratulated his former namesake on his new identity. How does industry define morality? Indonesia and the Philippines, the only ASEAN member-states with truly competitiveelectoral systems, have experienced a decline in the quality of their democracy, withgovernments critics and civil society groups under growing pressure. Join Facebook to connect with Ben Bland and others you may know. Despite its importance, the region remains woefully under-covered by UKuniversities and think-tanks, with not a single full-time research fellow dedicated toSoutheast Asia at the various leading think-tanks based in London. Analysis: The scarring effect on businesses, householdsand health systems could have a lasting impact on the regions development prospects. Twitter. In the brief text, Jokowi sounds more like a furniture exporter than a disciple of Sukarno, Metternich or Kissinger, talking of the need to "boost quality Indonesian products, reduce our dependency on imports, create balance and expand the scope of export markets". My impression is the immense power of Indonesias oligarchs and military is the main factor blocking foreign investment. The FCDO couldbenefit from the country experience, contacts and new ideas that outside experts bring,across a range of activities, from traditional diplomacy to trade and investment, anddevelopment cooperation. Fig. WebHe is the author of Man of Contradictions: Joko Widodo and the Struggle to Remake Indonesia (Penguin Random House, 2020), the first English language political biography Lowy Institute. Southeast Asia, at the geographical heart of the Indo-Pacific, is the region where there ismost to play for, and most at stake, for the UK and its allies and close partners such as theUS, Australia and Japan. Indonesia has the presidency of the G20 in 2022 and, more broadly, it is keen toplay a bigger role in global institutions, many of which have withered on the vine in recentyears. While Indonesia coasted, the contours of power in Asia were shifting dramatically around it. 19. Extract from Man of Contradictions: Joko Widodo and the Struggle to Remake Indonesia by Ben Bland, a Lowy Institute Paper published by Penguin Random House on 1 September 2020, RRP $12.99. It disappoints the optimists and it disappoints the pessimists too.. The rising middle classes across the region willgenerate strong demand for the products and services that Britains diverse corporate sectorprovides. 37. I am also a non-resident Senior Research Fellow at the ForeignPolicy Centre in London. 3. This can be done through development cooperation with local NGOs but also throughfacilitating connections between Indonesian NGOs and their counterparts in the region andbeyond. "When I put it like that, he got it," the aide said, baffled but charmed at the same time. And yet, under Jokowis watch, there has been a troubling deterioration in Indonesias democratic governance. Jokowi has also been feted by many Western politicians and pundits who have been seduced by his charms. Of late, we at FP have been wondering: What can Russias war in Ukraine teach the world going forward? This would bea great channel to deepen the strategic and practical conversations between the twocountries. He was taking an ever more muscular approach, with the goal of building a hegemonic position for Beijing in the region. Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand are embroiled in long-runningand sometimes violent conflicts with separatist groups. "Good to see you back in the big chair, behind the big black desk!" 11. Jokowi pushed ahead, confident that his tough approach was popular at home. The West is desperate for new partners in Asia to help it push back against Xi Jinpings China. On his website, he wrote: In recent months, I have received quite a few messages on social media some pleasant, some hostile intended for another journalist with exactly the same name as mine: Ben Bland. He cheekily added: "(*creative licence may have been used in this description)". Myanmars democratically elected government was ousted in a coupearlier this year. 6. It feels a significant time to do it, because of a similar decision made around a century ago adding an historic symmetry to all this. That meant, chiefly, no formal military or security alliances with other nations. 28. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. 8. http://loopers.co/. Influencer shows off booty workout as fans troll her for 'uncomfortable' outfit, Mum-of-three Tammy Hembrow shared a clip of her leg day on Instagram where followers couldn't help but notice what she was wearing for the gruelling booty workout. Economic diplomacy, encompassing development cooperation but focused on boostingtrade and investment, should be a major focus. For booking a gig, Download the FP mobile app to read anytime, anywhere. Britains renewed enthusiasm in Southeast Asia means, among other tasks, negotiating the idiosyncrasies of ASEAN. The Interpreter features in-depth analysis & expert commentary on the latest international events, published daily by the Lowy Institute, Copyright 2023 analyse how our Sites are used. Surely that should humble us a bit?, The long shadow of Iraq and its lessons today, Butts the changing shape of beauty standards. His responses were ineffective, targeted at maximising media attention rather than achieving concrete results. Jokowi, by contrast, disliked the formalities of diplomacy and public speaking. A monthly digest of the top articles read by FP subscribers. Lastly, the FCDO needs to do more to help build a broader community of experts engaged inSoutheast Asia. We can now increasingly celebrate the difference and diversity in our backgrounds rather than having to hide them. 13. Sometimes he gels with his counterparts and ignores his formal talking points, and at other times he reads out speeches in robotic fashion. Delivered Monday-Saturday. The journalist has explained that he will now use the name Ben Boulos in his professional and daily life, and has changed his name across his social media accounts. WhereASEAN differs is that its Jakarta-based secretariat is deliberately deprived of resources andpower, to ensure that authority and sovereignty resides in national capitals. Your guide to the most important world stories of the day. Although he has taken Indonesia down a slightly more unilateral path, Jokowi is driven by instinct, whim and the winds of fortune. Author and foreign policy analyst working on Southeast Asia and Hong Kong Sign up now so you dont. While Southeast Asian postings have not typically been seen as a top priority, the FCDOneeds to ensure that it develops more diplomats with extensive regional experience andcarves out more time for them to undertake language study. A curated selection of our very best long reads. The latest Lowy Poll shows the gaps in public understanding that bedevils the goal of closer bilateral relations. With thelarge developing countries of Southeast Asia struggling to get access to and distributevaccines, this is likely to be a multi-year crisis. Blands book makes a major contribution to our understanding of Indonesia, as well as Jokowi, the main subject. Nationalism and protectionism were already on the rise when COVID-19 shut down global supply chains. Jokowi, pictured with Scott Morrison, has shown a renewed enthusiasm for bilateral trade agreements, signing one with Australia in early 2020 after years of arduous negotiations.Dominic Lorrimer. Yet, it is hardly part of a broader strategy to embrace free trade. Join in-depth conversations and interact with foreign-policy experts with. Remember the adage that generals always fight the last war? Jonathan Pershing, formerly the Biden administrations No. Indonesia is the most populous nation in Southeast Asia, a G20 economy, the worlds thirdbiggest democracy and the worlds biggest Muslim-majority nation. 40. Beyond traditional areas of civil society focus such as the environment, law reform, genderequality and media freedom, the UK should be more active in promoting digital rights anddigital literacy in Indonesia. 30. Watch the full interview for insights on how industry thinks about deglobalization, the U.S.-China rivalry, the war in Ukraine, and much more. The bilateral trade and investment relationship is under-developed so thereshould be plenty of opportunities for growth. Same Ben. And by his second term, this outsider had become firmly embedded in elite politics. 34. | View Comments (). Indeed, rather than rising to the challenge Jokowi has struggled under the immense pressure. A fluent English speaker, he was genuinely interested in trying to make Indonesia influential on the global stage, assisted by his eloquent and high-profile foreign ministers, Marty Natalegawa and Hassan Wirajuda. Be the first to receive the Lowy Institutes latest research, podcasts and information on upcoming events. A British citizen, I am an expert on Southeast Asian politics, and have been working in orstudying the region for 20 years. The UK also needs to enhance its engagement with civil society in Indonesia, which remainsthe most vibrant democracy in Southeast Asia, despite recent pressures on human rights. The Indonesian government is also trying to increase trade diplomacy with partner countries through bilateral agreements. 10. Please, and moving back to London after 14 years, The end of Fortress Australia?, a first birthday for Man of Contradictions, why writing is thinking, and the other love of my life, The UK's Indo-Pacific Tilt, mutual (mis)understanding between Australia and Indonesia, and what Franz Kafka tells us about Hong Kong's legal system, COVID-19 runs rampant in Indonesia, ASEAN's Rorschach test in Myanmar, the long struggle in Hong Kong and the women who changed war reporting, From a royal slipper thrown at Sir Francis Walsingham to Saddam Hussein's non-existent Weapons of Mass Destruction, via Napoleon's love of OSINT and, The two faces of Indonesian democracy, Beijing's inevitable squeeze in Hong Kong, and the Washington method in Southeast Asia. The pandemic has exerted a heavy toll on theregions economies and health systems, taking several hundred thousand lives. We use (As if talking so much that the other person's ear is moved back.) In early 2020, as the economy showed signs of weakness while still chugging along at 5 per cent growth, Jokowi asked his ambassadors to put "70-80 per cent" of their focus on economic diplomacy. Explore the benefits of your FP subscription. For more of the latest showbiz news from Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here. Sharing a snap of him sitting at a desk at BBC News, Ben was grinning at the camera while rifling through his notes, a glass of water prepared at his side. Impact on the regions development prospects reason at that time and it disappoints pessimists! Purpose well to stem the outside pressure he was generating top articles read ben bland ears... Elite politics opportunities for growth, targeted at maximising media attention rather than rising the... 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