Introduction

The step taken by president Jokowi was correct in stating that Indonesia continues to support Palestinian independence. On the other hand, it also continues to accept Israel’s participation as a participant in the world cup at the age of 20 because it is a consequence of Indonesia as a host being part of a country that is a member of FIFA and also including in other international organizations in which Israel is a member.

Whether like it or not, that is the consequence of international relations in the nation and state.

In the G-20, it is worth remembering the incident where the western bloc countries had wanted to boycott Russia’s participation. However, Russia wisely only sent its representative, namely Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, without the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin so that the G-20 in Indonesia would continue to run smoothly.

Of course, Indonesia cannot expect Israel to act the same as Russia, and whatever reactions from other countries, Indonesia must respond wisely as long as it does not threaten or interfere with the national interests.

Furthermore, finally, it can be seen that pushing Bung Karno’s idea was not easy; several governors who voiced their rejection of Israel immediately received a strong reaction from FIFA, just like Bung Karno before, who even at the highest point of escalation caused Indonesia to leave the United Nations.

Moreover, Jokowi prefers a moderate way with his Two State Solution approach because Jokowi understands how the degree of the hegemonic power of the western bloc suppresses its political agenda, which in the end, Indonesia must experience the direct impact of these international sporting events.

Even President Jokowi officially sent Erick Tohir, chairman of PSSI and former president of Inter Milan, to lobby FIFA president Gianni Infantino, a fan of Inter Milan, to continue to make Indonesia the host of the aged 20 world cup.

However, rice has become mush, and FIFA has cancelled Indonesia as the host. They did not budge when President Jokowi issued an official speech to continue to accept Israel’s participation.

Step Forward

So how will Indonesia react in the future? According to the writer, Indonesia must start preparing steps to no longer depend too much on the western bloc. In the case of the nickel export ban, which the European Union challenged at the WTO (World Trade Organization), Indonesia remained firm in rejecting raw exports even though it lost at the WTO.

Furthermore, of course, there will be further consequences from the Western bloc, which could be in the future not only boycotting Indonesia at sporting events but even at the level of an economic and military embargo.

China’s interest to invite Indonesia in joining the BRICS economic-political organization (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) is an excellent opportunity to be an alternative international economic and political space in the future, considering the BRICS itself covers 42 percent of the world’s population, has 27 percent of the world’s area, and 32 percent of global GDP.

Indonesia’s participation in this organization will include several other new or candidate countries, such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, Argentina, Kazakhstan, UAE, Nigeria, Senegal, and Thailand. Of course, it will become an extraordinary economic and political power because it almost exceeds 50% of global economic and political power.

Moreover, among their fellow BRICS countries, they have implemented their own monetary, trade, and financial systems. Thus, they are free from western block hegemony, in this case, the United States with its dollar currency.

Indonesia must have the courage to take this step to protect its reputation and national interests going forward because President Jokowi failed to convince FIFA regarding the 20 year old world cup, and defeat at the WTO regarding the ban on raw nickel exports has become a yellow light for Indonesia that the western bloc still underestimating Indonesia and one day being able to make unilateral decisions that could harm Indonesia’s national interests.

But on the other hand, Indonesia must be able to formulate a foreign policy based on the nation’s noble values. Amid world political conditions still trapped in the battle between 2 world hegemonic powers, Indonesia must become a balance of power to ensure there is always peace among countries. The balance of power is the willingness to share interests, strengths, and actions to create no threat to each country’s sovereignty and national interests (Michael C. Williams, 2005). Furthermore, that is Diplomacy with the Value of Unity in Diversity.

Bhinneka Tunggal Ika Diplomacy in Forming a New Global Order

The sesanti or motto of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika itself departs from Mpu’s writings Tantular, a follower of Tantrayana Buddhism , the great poet of the Majapahit kingdom in the era of King Hayamwuruk (1350-1389), which was written in Kakawin Sutasoma, Pupuh (Chapter) 139, stanza 5 which reads “Bhinna ika Tunggal Ika , tan hana dharma mangrva” if translated etymologically means “Different is one thing, there is no dual dedication.”

Intellectuals and experts from the University of Indonesia and the National Defense Institute Jenny Hardjanto (2022) explained that Bhinneka Tunggal Ika contains the values of inclusive nationalism, cooperation, solidarity, integrity, trust, responsibility, equality, tolerance, and peace. This value is undoubtedly synergistic to be implemented in Indonesian national and international associations.

Regarding the context of responding to the challenges of the new world order due to friction between the western and eastern blocks, internally, the values of cooperation, trust, and responsibility are the principal capital for the nation and state of Indonesia to maintain resilience and national interests amidst global turmoil of distrust, with the spirit of cooperation coupled with a sense of trust and responsibility.

Externally, the values of justice, tolerance, inclusiveness, solidarity, equality, and peace are expected to become a pillar of Indonesia’s foreign policy under Bhinneka Tunggal Ika and the preamble of the 1945 Constitution, which aims to implement world order based on freedom, eternal peace, and social justice. This was manifested in a free and active foreign policy to prevent Indonesia from being trapped in the interests of the Western bloc or the Eastern bloc, as stated by Founding Father Mohammad Hatta.

So Indonesia assertively, in the era of President Joko Widodo’s leadership, should be able to carry out Bhinneka Tunggal Ika diplomacy and become a driving force to reduce or stop a world order that is full of conflicts and brings down each other on the part of the Western bloc and the Eastern bloc because the world order that is bipolar and full of conflict will only leave misery and suffering for the country and the world community, including the state and nation of Indonesia itself.