Description
In recent years, Indonesia and Brazil have shown seemingly inconsistent stances toward international conflicts: while adopting a passive approach to Russia’s aggression, they have taken a firm stand against Israel in the Gaza conflict. This paper argues that traditional geopolitical analyses, which emphasize strategic interests and constraints, fall short of explaining these foreign policy choices. Instead, we propose that the narratives these countries construct about themselves, deeply tied to their historical identities, offer a more comprehensive understanding of their behavior.
Indonesia and Brazil’s foreign policies reflect their self-images as advocates for oppressed nations and resistance to Western dominance, narratives rooted in colonial legacies and past struggles. These biographical narratives shape their diplomatic choices, manifesting as what may appear to be ambivalence but is, in fact, a reconciliation of strategic interests with identity-driven priorities. By exploring these narrative identities, we reveal how Indonesia and Brazil balance between pragmatism and the symbolic weight of their Global South identity.
This paper thus offers insights into how states interpret their global roles, suggesting that foreign policy in the Global South is not merely reactive but also reflective of deeper historical and identity-based narratives. These perspectives enhance our understanding of the complex and often ambiguous ways Indonesia and Brazil engage with international crises, especially in Europe and the Middle East, providing a nuanced view of how narrative identity informs global political actions.
