PROFILE OF A LEADER: INDONESIA

In 2014, Indonesians voted in a closely fought election with some surprising results. Historically the president has come from the elite class or has served as a military general. In October 2014, Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo a former furniture businessmen was elected as the first Indonesian president outside these circles. His election was contentious but his reputation as a man of the people has been widespread. 

 1.  He’s Humble, Calm & a Man of Few Words

      He’s soft spoken and rarely talks unless necessary, which are characteristics that are seen as rare in politicians. It’s to the point that any policy recommendations have to be short, concise and enumerate the pros & cons of any policy in order for him to even hear it.

      2.  He’s Un-touched by Corruption

Since Jokowi was an ordinary citizen before election, he's seen as untainted by the country's endemic corruption. This idea is bolstered by his tough stance against corruption, nepotism and intolerance that flourished during Suharto’s time.

3.  He’s Popular with the Urban Youth & Represents their Will

During elections he promised to focus on social reforms such as, education, health, poverty reduction, and modern technology, including e-governance.

4.     His Vision is to Look Inward

Jokowi doesn’t have any foreign policy experience, so a lot of his policies are inward looking. He generally strays out of regional issues or integration policies, such as the TTP.

5.     His Policies Focus on Becoming a Maritime Nation

He’s dedicated to increasing maritime security, while still seeking to transform Indonesia into a maritime power. He’s working towards enhancing inter-island connectivity, as well as upgrading for infrastructure within the archipelago. The increased levels of nationalism and their maritime doctrine have resulted in the recent increase in the sinking of ships.

Just as Obama was facing extremely high expectations during his first administration Jokowi must learn how to effectively manage the expectations of ‘the new hope’, while still remaining effective. He must learn to navigate political bureaucracy in order to pass his social reforms. As well as, work within the government to efficiently tackle corruption, economic decline, and maritime instabilities. With another five years till the election, Jokowi has a difficult road ahead.