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The Post-Bandung Order and the Multiplex Trap: Reconsidering Indonesian Agency and the Imagination of the Global South
Corresponding Author(s) : Virdika Rizky Utama
JURNAL HUBUNGAN LUAR NEGERI,
Vol. 10 No. 2 (2025): Jurnal Hubungan Luar Negeri
Abstract
The 1955 Bandung Asian-African Conference is often regarded as a historic moment that paved the way for envisioning a more equitable global order. However, after seven decades, the spirit of Bandung has been preserved more as a ceremonial symbol than actualised into a substantive agenda. Utilising Amitav Acharya's framework of the multiplex world, this article proposes the concept of the "multiplex trap" to explain the paradox of multipolarity: the presence of more great powers does not necessarily bring about the democratisation of the global order, but rather multiplies the old layers of hierarchy. In this context, Indonesia faces complex agency challenges. Its presence in various international forums—the Non-Aligned Movement, G77, BRICS, and G20—demonstrates consistent multi-layered diplomacy, but this is not enough to change the global power structure.
Through a historical-structural approach and critical examination of epistemic hierarchies, this article highlights how the Global South still largely uses vocabulary formulated by old and new hegemonies, making it difficult to produce alternative norms rooted in its own experiences. Case studies, such as Indonesia's reduction of export tariffs to the United States, followed by strategic import contracts, as well as the adoption of Chinese-style digital surveillance technology by the domestic elite, demonstrate how pragmatic choices can sometimes narrow the space for autonomy. The fragmentation of interests among Southern countries, the erosion of solidarity in trade transactions, and the limited normative innovation also explain why the spirit of Bandung has not evolved into Bandung 2.0.
This article offers a forward-looking reflection: Indonesia can leverage its strategic position not only as a connector between blocs, but also as a formulator of a more inclusive alternative discourse. By shifting the focus of solidarity from blocs of countries to cross-border networks—such as climate justice, migrant dignity, and digital sovereignty—and building a more contextual diplomatic vocabulary, the Bandung spirit has the potential to be revived not as nostalgia, but as epistemic empowerment for the Global South.
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- Acharya, A. (2004). 'How Ideas Spread: Whose Norms Matter? Norm Locali-zation and Institutional Change in Asian Regionalism', International Or-ganization, 58(2), pp. 239-275.
- Acharya, A. (2011). 'Norm Subsidiarity and Regional Orders: Sovereignty, Regionalism, and Rule-Making in the Third World', International Studies Quarterly, 55(1), pp. 95-123.
- Acharya, A. (2014a). 'Global International Relations (IR) and Regional Worlds: A New Agenda for International Studies', International Studies Quarterly, 58(4), pp. 647-659.
- Acharya, A. (2014b). Constructing a Secu-rity Community in Southeast Asia: ASEAN and the Problem of Regional Order. London: Routledge.
- Acharya, A. (2016a). 'Advancing Global IR: Challenges, Contentions, and Con-tributions', International Studies Re-view, 18(1), pp. 4-15.
- Acharya, A. (2016b). 'The Future of Global Governance: Fragmentation May Be Inevitable and Creative', Global Gov-ernance: A Review of Multilateralism and International Organizations, 22(4), pp. 453-460.
- Akbar, C. (2025). 'Cerita di Balik Kesepa-katan Tarif Impor Prabowo-Trump', Majalah Tempo. Available at: https://www.tempo.co/ekonomi/negosiasi-prabowo-subianto-tarif-trump-2051461 (Accessed: 29 September 2025).
- Antara (2025). 'Celios Beberkan Dampak Kebijakan Tarif Trump ke RI: Bisa Memicu Resesi', Tempo. Available at: https://www.tempo.co/ekonomi/celios-beberkan-dampak-kebijakan-tarif-trump-ke-ri-bisa-memicu-resesi-1227240 (Accessed: 29 September 2025).
- Artner, A. (2022). 'Self-organization of the Global South and the Ongoing Change of the World Order', in D. Khudori (ed.), BANDUNG-BELGRADE-HAVANA IN GLOBAL HISTORY AND PERSPECTIVE. Su-rabaya: Airlangga University Press, pp. 181-190.
- Barbieri, G. (2022). 'Is the Empire Striking Back? From Western Dominance to a Multicentric World Order', in D. Khu-dori (ed.), BANDUNG-BELGRADE-HAVANA IN GLOBAL HISTORY AND PERSPECTIVE. Surabaya: Air-langga University Press, pp. 169-180.
- Cooper, A.F., Higgott, R.A. and Nossal, K.R. (2007). Relocating Middle Pow-ers: Australia and Canada in a Chang-ing World Order. Vancouver: UBC Press.
- Cox, R.W. (1981). 'Social Forces, States and World Orders: Beyond Interna-tional Relations Theory', Millennium: Journal of International Studies, 10(2), pp. 126-155.
- Farid, H. (2022). 'Rethinking The Legacies of Bandung', in D. Khudori (ed.), BANDUNG-BELGRADE-HAVANA IN GLOBAL HISTORY AND PER-SPECTIVE. Surabaya: Airlangga Uni-versity Press, pp. 15-26.
- Jati, W.R. (2013). 'Soekarno dan Third-Worldisme', Prisma, 32(2 & 3), p. 165.
- Jati, W.R. (2025). 'Ketimpangan Utara-Selatan dalam Globalisasi Abad ke-21', Prisma, 44(1), pp. 14-25.
- Jones, D.M. and Jenne, N. (2016). 'Weak states' regionalism: ASEAN and the limits of security cooperation in Pacific Asia', International Relations of the Asia-Pacific, 16(2), pp. 209–240.
- Khudori, D. (2022). 'The Rise of Asia and the Polarisation of Global Forces: Western Galaxy and Bandung Con-stellation. A Sketch of Ideas for a Global Future, in D. Khudori (ed.), BANDUNG-BELGRADE-HAVANA IN GLOBAL HISTORY AND PER-SPECTIVE. Surabaya: Airlangga Uni-versity Press, pp. 1-14.
- Layne, C. (2008). 'China’s challenge to US hegemony', Current History, 107(705), pp. 13–18.
- Lee, C.J. (2010). 'Between a Moment and an Era: The Origins and the Afterlives of Bandung', in C.J. Lee (ed.), Making a World After Empire: The Bandung Moment and Its Political Afterlives. Athens: Ohio University Press.
- Petito, F. (2016). 'Dialogue of Civilizations in a Multipolar World: Toward a Mul-ticivilizational-Multiplex World Order', International Studies Review, 18(1), pp. 78-91.
- Prashad, V. (2025). Bangsa-Bangsa Kulit Berwarna: Sejarah Masyarakat Dunia Ketiga. GDN Press.
- Stuenkel, O. (2020). The BRICS and the Future of Global Order. London: Bloomsbury Publishing.
- Stutje, K. (2024). Di Balik Bendera Per-satuan: Kalangan Nasionalis Indone-sia dan Gerakan Antikolonial Dunia 1917–1931. Tangerang Selatan: Marjin Kiri.
- Sukarno (1983). Indonesia Menggugat. Vol. 1. Jakarta: Inti Idayu Press.
- Sukma, R. (2003). Indonesia and China: The Politics of a Troubled Relation-ship. London: Routledge.
- Sutrisno, E.B. (2025). Dampak Positif Pengenaan Tarif Resiprokal Trump. Available at: https://djpb.kemenkeu.go.id/kppn/palopo/id/data-publikasi/189-berita/2938-dampak-positif-dari-pengenaan-tarif-resiprokal-trump.html (Accessed: 29 September 2025).
- Utama, W.S. (2017). Konferensi Asia-Afrika 1955: Asal Usul Intelektual dan Warisannya bagi Gerakan Global Anti Imperialisme. Tangerang Selatan: Marjin Kiri.
- Wade, R.H. (2011). Emerging World Or-der? From Multipolarity to Multilateral-ism in the G20, the World Bank, and the IMF, Politics & Society, 39(3), pp. 347-378.
- Wallerstein, I. (2011). The Modern World-System I: Capitalist Agriculture and the Origins of the European World-Economy in the Sixteenth Century. 1st ed. Berkeley: University of California Press.
- Zartman, I.W. and Rubin, J.Z. (eds.) (2000). Power and Negotiation. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
References
Acharya, A. (2004). 'How Ideas Spread: Whose Norms Matter? Norm Locali-zation and Institutional Change in Asian Regionalism', International Or-ganization, 58(2), pp. 239-275.
Acharya, A. (2011). 'Norm Subsidiarity and Regional Orders: Sovereignty, Regionalism, and Rule-Making in the Third World', International Studies Quarterly, 55(1), pp. 95-123.
Acharya, A. (2014a). 'Global International Relations (IR) and Regional Worlds: A New Agenda for International Studies', International Studies Quarterly, 58(4), pp. 647-659.
Acharya, A. (2014b). Constructing a Secu-rity Community in Southeast Asia: ASEAN and the Problem of Regional Order. London: Routledge.
Acharya, A. (2016a). 'Advancing Global IR: Challenges, Contentions, and Con-tributions', International Studies Re-view, 18(1), pp. 4-15.
Acharya, A. (2016b). 'The Future of Global Governance: Fragmentation May Be Inevitable and Creative', Global Gov-ernance: A Review of Multilateralism and International Organizations, 22(4), pp. 453-460.
Akbar, C. (2025). 'Cerita di Balik Kesepa-katan Tarif Impor Prabowo-Trump', Majalah Tempo. Available at: https://www.tempo.co/ekonomi/negosiasi-prabowo-subianto-tarif-trump-2051461 (Accessed: 29 September 2025).
Antara (2025). 'Celios Beberkan Dampak Kebijakan Tarif Trump ke RI: Bisa Memicu Resesi', Tempo. Available at: https://www.tempo.co/ekonomi/celios-beberkan-dampak-kebijakan-tarif-trump-ke-ri-bisa-memicu-resesi-1227240 (Accessed: 29 September 2025).
Artner, A. (2022). 'Self-organization of the Global South and the Ongoing Change of the World Order', in D. Khudori (ed.), BANDUNG-BELGRADE-HAVANA IN GLOBAL HISTORY AND PERSPECTIVE. Su-rabaya: Airlangga University Press, pp. 181-190.
Barbieri, G. (2022). 'Is the Empire Striking Back? From Western Dominance to a Multicentric World Order', in D. Khu-dori (ed.), BANDUNG-BELGRADE-HAVANA IN GLOBAL HISTORY AND PERSPECTIVE. Surabaya: Air-langga University Press, pp. 169-180.
Cooper, A.F., Higgott, R.A. and Nossal, K.R. (2007). Relocating Middle Pow-ers: Australia and Canada in a Chang-ing World Order. Vancouver: UBC Press.
Cox, R.W. (1981). 'Social Forces, States and World Orders: Beyond Interna-tional Relations Theory', Millennium: Journal of International Studies, 10(2), pp. 126-155.
Farid, H. (2022). 'Rethinking The Legacies of Bandung', in D. Khudori (ed.), BANDUNG-BELGRADE-HAVANA IN GLOBAL HISTORY AND PER-SPECTIVE. Surabaya: Airlangga Uni-versity Press, pp. 15-26.
Jati, W.R. (2013). 'Soekarno dan Third-Worldisme', Prisma, 32(2 & 3), p. 165.
Jati, W.R. (2025). 'Ketimpangan Utara-Selatan dalam Globalisasi Abad ke-21', Prisma, 44(1), pp. 14-25.
Jones, D.M. and Jenne, N. (2016). 'Weak states' regionalism: ASEAN and the limits of security cooperation in Pacific Asia', International Relations of the Asia-Pacific, 16(2), pp. 209–240.
Khudori, D. (2022). 'The Rise of Asia and the Polarisation of Global Forces: Western Galaxy and Bandung Con-stellation. A Sketch of Ideas for a Global Future, in D. Khudori (ed.), BANDUNG-BELGRADE-HAVANA IN GLOBAL HISTORY AND PER-SPECTIVE. Surabaya: Airlangga Uni-versity Press, pp. 1-14.
Layne, C. (2008). 'China’s challenge to US hegemony', Current History, 107(705), pp. 13–18.
Lee, C.J. (2010). 'Between a Moment and an Era: The Origins and the Afterlives of Bandung', in C.J. Lee (ed.), Making a World After Empire: The Bandung Moment and Its Political Afterlives. Athens: Ohio University Press.
Petito, F. (2016). 'Dialogue of Civilizations in a Multipolar World: Toward a Mul-ticivilizational-Multiplex World Order', International Studies Review, 18(1), pp. 78-91.
Prashad, V. (2025). Bangsa-Bangsa Kulit Berwarna: Sejarah Masyarakat Dunia Ketiga. GDN Press.
Stuenkel, O. (2020). The BRICS and the Future of Global Order. London: Bloomsbury Publishing.
Stutje, K. (2024). Di Balik Bendera Per-satuan: Kalangan Nasionalis Indone-sia dan Gerakan Antikolonial Dunia 1917–1931. Tangerang Selatan: Marjin Kiri.
Sukarno (1983). Indonesia Menggugat. Vol. 1. Jakarta: Inti Idayu Press.
Sukma, R. (2003). Indonesia and China: The Politics of a Troubled Relation-ship. London: Routledge.
Sutrisno, E.B. (2025). Dampak Positif Pengenaan Tarif Resiprokal Trump. Available at: https://djpb.kemenkeu.go.id/kppn/palopo/id/data-publikasi/189-berita/2938-dampak-positif-dari-pengenaan-tarif-resiprokal-trump.html (Accessed: 29 September 2025).
Utama, W.S. (2017). Konferensi Asia-Afrika 1955: Asal Usul Intelektual dan Warisannya bagi Gerakan Global Anti Imperialisme. Tangerang Selatan: Marjin Kiri.
Wade, R.H. (2011). Emerging World Or-der? From Multipolarity to Multilateral-ism in the G20, the World Bank, and the IMF, Politics & Society, 39(3), pp. 347-378.
Wallerstein, I. (2011). The Modern World-System I: Capitalist Agriculture and the Origins of the European World-Economy in the Sixteenth Century. 1st ed. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Zartman, I.W. and Rubin, J.Z. (eds.) (2000). Power and Negotiation. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.