Indonesia’s “Free and Active” Foreign Policy under President Soekarno (1948 - 1966)

Abstract

The “free and active” foreign policy pursued under President Soekarno is widely regarded as the foundation of Indonesia’s subsequent foreign policy orientation. An analysis of the formation and implementation of this policy not only clarifies Indonesia’s external direction during the period 1948–1966, but also provides deeper insight into the strategic thinking of a newly independent state within the context of the Cold War. It further explains why this principle has continued to occupy a central position in Indonesia’s foreign policy mindset up to the present day. Drawing on both primary and secondary sources, this study elucidates the historical context in which Indonesia’s “free and active” foreign policy emerged, as well as its practical implementation under President Soekarno. The analysis is structured around two distinct phases characterized by different features: the period from 1948 to 1959, marked by a balanced and proactive diplomatic approach oriented toward peaceful engagement; and the period from 1959 to 1966, characterized by a more assertive, confrontational, and ideologically driven foreign policy.