Menchik Discusses Jokowi’s Address at UN General Assembly

Jeremy Menchik, Associate Professor of International Relations at the Fredrick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University, appeared on VOA Indonesia to discuss President Joko Widodo’s – also known as Jokowi – first address at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly. 

President Jokowi was previously represented by his vice president, Jusuf Kalla, during these addresses. His pre-recorded address  emphasized cooperation and multilateralism in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Menchik outlined how Jokowi’s remarks laid out how Indonesia must be wary of all great powers. He went on to say that by sticking with the principles of the Bandung Conference, Indonesia can reap the benefits of economic development working with China and international law with the United States/UN while also while also pushing back against manipulation by outside powers.

A recording of the story can be viewed below.

Jeremy Menchik is Associate Professor at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University. His book, Islam and Democracy in Indonesia: Tolerance without Liberalism (Cambridge University Press, 2016) explains the meaning of tolerance to the world’s largest Islamic organizations and was the winner of the 2017 International Studies Association award for the best book on religion and international relations. Read more about him here