In 1998, in the twilight of the 20th century, the resignation of
Indonesia's autocratic president Suharto ushered in a new political era. Corresponding
changes occurred in Indonesia's economic, social, and cultural landscape. That
transformation challenged and transformed the thinking of many Indonesians. One
of them was Dr. Dino Patti Djalal, who recently became his country's ambassador to the United States. "I
entered the twenty-first century with a new mindset," said Djalal to an overflow audience at the
Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center (Shorenstein APARC) on
November 18, 2010.
As the son of a renowned Indonesian diplomat, Djalal spent much
of his youth and early adulthood abroad. He attended high school in the United
States and college in Canada, and went on to earn his doctorate from the London
School of Economics and Political Science. Djalal's diverse professional talents
and experience encompass writing, politics, and film production. Passionate
about inspiring and empowering young Indonesians, Djalal founded Modernisator, a youth leadership movement
in Indonesia. Before becoming ambassador to the United States in September 2010, he served
on the staff of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as a spokesperson
and special adviser on foreign affairs.
Djalal's speech at Shorenstein APARC featured his top eight personal
beliefs about the 21st century. His remarks were a mixture of optimism and
wonder tempered by caution. This new century in Djalal's eyes promises great
progress and opportunity, in contrast to the 20th century, which he called
"probably the bloodiest century ever in human history." Looking
forward, he spoke of an "explosion of creativity," the growth of
emerging and developing economies, and major advances in technology. The power
to eradicate poverty and to achieve world harmony is within our grasp, he
argued, provided countries are willing to be open to new ideas and to embrace
progress and change.
The last century, Djalal noted, saw the
fall and fragmentation of empires and the birth of many new states. Looking
ahead, he did not foresee great changes in the world's geopolitical map. He
hoped that world leaders would not promote a further proliferation of new
countries, which would increase rivalry and instability. Instead the goal
should be unification, as in the case of the Korean Peninsula. He spoke
optimistically of the trend whereby existing countries such as Indonesia manage
to "proliferise," or acquire new and greater global relevance, and
advocated a "geopolitics of cooperation" among larger and smaller
countries, as in the Group of 20.
Djalal stressed the need for rapid innovation and ongoing social,
economic, and educational change. A nation that wants to succeed in the 21st century
must be open and adaptable. Analysts once thought that major changes could only
unfold over several generations, but now, Djalal argued, dramatic change can
occur in the span of a single generation. In addition to developing open and
progressive political thinking, said Djalal, good governance is essential if
the world is to enjoy stability and prosperity in this century. Having a democratic
government does not automatically ensure good governance, he argued. Political
leaders must strive to build strong, accountable institutions that emphasize
positive outcomes in key sectors such as health, education, and
entrepreneurship.
Addressing the younger generation, Djalal said, "skill is your
best currency" in the present century. Individuals, empowered by education
and technology, are now free to make their way in the world based on their own
talents. He recalled that in an earlier era in Indonesia, as in many other
parts of the world, access to information was limited by social status, wealth,
and gender. More than any other factor, according to Djalal, technology is the
"most important driver of change." It is the small, innovative
technologies such as cell phones and online banking that will most change the
world, provided we learn "how to adopt it without destroying the human
soul."
Globalization is here to stay, Djalal argued, so it
is crucial to "embrace it intelligently." Indonesia is a large
country. But rather than rely on superior physical size, Indonesia and other
large countries must climb the global ranks on less tangible dimensions such as
education, including the skill sets needed to develop their economies. While
being open to engaging with the rest of the world, he added, countries must
also cultivate a strong sense of national identity.
Djalal closed on a high and provocative note, suggesting that the free, innovative, and global nature of the current
century provides the means for young people today to become "potentially the best
generation of all previous generations." How then should we proceed, as
individuals and as countries, to realize that bright future? Djalal left that
question hanging in the air for his audience to consider and to answer.
