GTI-Thursday, 5/11/2025, Global Thinkers Institute-GTI, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Department of International Relations UPN "Veteran" Jakarta and Global Future Institute-GFI organized a geopolitical seminar, "Neocolonialism and Neonazism; Challenges of the Multipolar World of Southern Countries (Global South) and ASEAN," at the Mulyono Sudirman Auditorium, Faculty of Medicine UPNVJ, Pondok Labu, South Jakarta.

Attended by various speakers. Acting Vice Rector for Academic Affairs UPNVJ, Henry Binsar H. Sitorus (Open Remark 1), Muhammad Ma'ruf, Ph.D, Director of Global Thinkers Institute-GTI (Open Remark 2). Mani Eriza, Head of the Center for Multilateral Policy Strategy, Foreign Policy Strategy Agency (BSKLN), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia (Keynote-speaker).

The resource persons; First Marshal TNI (Ret.) R. Agung Sasongkojati, geopolitical and military observer, Hendrajid, Director of The Global Future Institute (GFI). Prof. Dr. Ali Mochtar Ngabalin, M.Si., Head of Foreign Policy and International Relations Division of the Golkar Party Central Executive Board, Musa Maliki, Ph.D., International Relations lecturer at UPNVJ. The discussion was moderated by Muhammad Ma'ruf, Ph.D.

Henry

Henry emphasized the importance of Indonesia's foreign policy independence as well as the importance of strengthening strategic partnerships with various countries without being trapped in the competition of great power interests.

ASEAN has an important position in maintaining stability, strengthening regional resilience, and building solidarity among countries to ward off forms of political and economic domination as manifestations of Neocolonialism.

Muhammad Ma'ruf

Ma'ruf outlined, first, Neocolonialism and Neonazism are two ideologies that are being actively revived in Eastern Europe (Ukraine) and re-normalized to the southern world.

The current dynamics of global politics are colored by various efforts to manipulate history and propaganda for certain political interests. One phenomenon that requires serious attention is the campaign carried out by Ukraine in the Global South countries. This campaign seeks to glorify individuals who once collaborated with Nazi Germany during World War II, by portraying them as anti-colonial fighters. This narrative is not only misleading but also obscures the understanding of the history of Nazism and colonialism.

Second, both Neocolonialism and Neonazism are ideologies that contradict humanity and justice, contradicting the ideology of Pancasila. They must forever be rejected because they do not have a strong moral-political foundation.

Third, Neocolonialism and Neonazism are inherently ideologies based on racial and class supremacy. They have an expansionist and coercive tendency. Contradicting the spirit of Multipolarity and Pancasila; equality, sovereignty, and respect for human dignity.

Southern countries and ASEAN naturally-historically have the memory of being victims of colonialism and Nazi fascism, both directly and indirectly. That memory cannot be erased from public memory. It shapes the identity of the Indonesian nation that is anti-colonial. Integrated in the preamble of the Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, it mandates to become a free human being and nation, actively abolishing colonization (colonialism).

According to Ma'ruf, Multipolar World Governance is in line with the spirit of Pancasila and Bhineka Tunggal Ika. Meanwhile, Unipolar World Governance clearly contradicts Pancasila and Bhineka Tunggal Ika. Unipolar is based on the universalism of Western values as the standard of values, others besides the West must comply. Based on a single military command center (NATO). Anti-human rights, international law and democracy, which sometimes displays a selective face full of double standards.

Masni

Meanwhile Masni emphasized that the current architecture of Indonesia's foreign policy is a strategic synthesis of free-active and pro towards a Multipolar world order, realizing a fair and equal global ecosystem, no single domination, international law upheld consistently for all nations.

This free-active policy based on Multipolarity, according to Masni, has a moral and historical foundation; in accordance with the constitutional mandate, (eternal commitment to world order and social justice. Free-active means proactive strategic independence, not passive neutrality. Maintaining the spirit of Bandung 1955, is the historical epicenter of global solidarity against colonialism.

The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs encourages transformation towards Multipolar governance. Connecting North-South, developed-developing countries, partnering with all, without having alliances. Making ASEAN a regional multilateral platform that stabilizes through common agreements.

Agung

Agung emphasized that the war launched by the USA, Western Europe against Russia using the Ukrainian proxy was carried out within the framework of NATO's eastward expansion. Beginning with the color revolution operation in 2014 in Ukraine, it is a series of operations similar to regime change in Iraq, Venezuela, Syria and Iran.

The US and the West mobilize and use proxies by using various issues adjusted to the target country. Among them Nazism, caliphate, Sunni-Shia, anti-Semitism. In Ukraine, Neo-Nazi sentiment is used to build Russophobia and fight Russia.

However, for Agung who adheres to realism, he can understand Russia's position under Putin who considers the expansive steps of the US-West-Ukraine as an existential threat to the integrity of the Russian Federation.

Unipolar power has the same essence as neocolonialism, because it is supported by the Western military architecture; controlling the oceans and air via aircraft carriers. However, this system has vulnerabilities and can be countered by Russia; with the S 400, manufacturing superiority of ammunition production reaching 3 million compared to NATO and the US reaching 1.2 million, building land logistics corridors; BRI and INSTC anti-sea blockade.

Agung offers 4 doctrines of Indonesia's free-active politics based on Multipolarity;

First, multipolar realpolitik; the state must control resources with absolute control over supply chains, preventing divide-and-conquer operations and regime change interventions.

Second; counter-lawfare; breaking the misuse of maritime rules, FIR and international arbitration, eliminating the blaming mentality, offering peace but with strength.

Agung advises not to be a passive spectator, inviting to stop being victims of neocolonialism. Always be alert to foreign intervention, be alert to regime change operations. Conduct active diplomatic efforts to maintain regional stability, strengthen military sovereignty, have moral courage, be free from foreign dependence and control of the geopolitical map.

Several proposals from Agung, First, reconceptualizing free-active politics from neutral to strategic deterrence. Utilizing independence to reject dictation from outside, projecting stability and national sovereignty through a strategic realism approach.

Second, having geo-economic depth of energy, control of critical minerals as a world economic check point.

Third, utilizing maritime and air superiority, absolutely controlling the Indonesian Archipelagic Sea Lanes (ALKI), Flight Information Region (FIR), Exclusive Economic Zone (ZEE).

Fourth, utilizing strategic territorial depth, strategic territorial doctrine. A doctrine of total people's defense that burdens the opponent.

According to Agung, after World War II, there were only two powers (bipolar), the Cold War between the US vs the Soviet Union. After the Soviet Union broke up, the US became a Unipolar power. Building a Unipolar architecture by building 800 military bases in 70 countries. Playing double standards of international narrative rules and sanctions, controlling world finance with SWIFT, controlling Dubai and Singapore as HUBs. Launching proxy wars and regime change.

In 1990, the US began NATO's eastward expansion to stem Russian influence. Building trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States-AUKUS and  Quadrilateral Security Dialogue; United States, Australia, India, and Japan. QUAD to stem China's maritime influence.

Western Crisis

Now the West is experiencing a multidimensional legitimacy crisis; moral, legal, military and economic. This crisis has resulted in the destruction of global financial trust. The West builds a free market narrative, at the same time imposes unilateral sanctions on Iran and Russia. Using the USD as a weapon, freezing 300 billion USD of Russian assets.

Imposing double standards of law, and misusing the UN veto power thereby damaging the moral order of international relations. Propagandizing that the Russian Federation is a continuation of imperialism and colonialism of the Soviet Union era.

Although geographically or in terms of earth's location, Russia is a northern country, but in the political map and global diplomacy, the Russian Federation often intersects and is now building alliances with the Global South and ASEAN bloc.

The war launched by the USA, Western Europe against Russia using the Ukrainian proxy is carried out within the framework of NATO's eastward expansion. Beginning with the color revolution tactic in 2014 in Ukraine, it is a series of regime change operations as in Iraq, Venezuela, Syria and Iran.

The war launched by the US with NATO, Western Europe, Ukraine and Israel against Russia and Iran shows the US's limited capabilities. The doctrine of ocean control with aircraft carriers and air superiority can be paralyzed by high-precision missiles, underground military industry, drones and land control which is part of counter-neocolonialism.

According to Agung, southern countries are now actively taking counter-neocolonialism steps, including, the Sahel region revolution; Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger expelling neocolonialism forces.

The existence of Indonesia's Nickel downstreaming program, surviving the WTO lawsuit within the framework of economic sovereignty as part of anti-colonialism.

Other counter-neocolonialism steps, the formation of BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). The existence of a massive economic de-dollarization policy, with Local Currency Settlement (Economics & Banking)-LCS transactions, Cross-border Interbank Payment System-CIPS, and building a New Development Bank-NDB replacing SWIFT's dominance.

Southern countries that have dominant state resources, according to Agung, should be able to control main commodities and refuse to become intermediaries.

Hendrajid

Hendrajid gave several points. The issue of mercantilism that was popular at the beginning of colonialism, is now being revived under Unipolar-Trump, in the form of big data companies.

Indonesia according to Hendrajid, should take the opportunity that the steps of reviving neocolonialism which became Trump's policy can be utilized by Indonesia to activate the spirit of the non-aligned conference, in 1955. The phenomenon of Neonazism in Ukraine now is an operation of the remnants of Western forces that are trying to be used to fight Russia.

Musa

Musa quoted Kwame Nkrumah (1965), "Neocolonialism also is the worst form of imperialism. For those who practice it, it means power without responsibility, and for those who suffer from it, it means exploitation without redress."

Neocolonialism is actually a much more complex and comprehensive system, operating at the political, economic, social and cultural levels.

Musa believes, the US today is the embodiment of the worst neocolonialism (postcolonialism). Nevertheless, neocolonialism policy can breathe long due to the mentality of a society that has already been colonized. As Sukarno said, my struggle is easier because I expelled the colonizers. Your struggle will be more difficult because it is against your own people." Proven by the Freeport contract with Indonesia, until 2061.