Centre for Strategic and International Studies

Centre for Strategic and International Studies
Name	Centre for Strategic and International Studies
Formation	1962
Headquarters	Jakarta, Indonesia
Region served	Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Global
Leader title	President

Centre for Strategic and International Studies

The Centre for Strategic and International Studies is a Jakarta-based think tank founded in 1971 that focuses on policy analysis related to international affairs, regional security, and development. It engages policymakers, academics, diplomats, and business leaders through research, events, and publications linked to major regional institutions and global forums. The institute has been associated with figures from Indonesian politics, ASEAN diplomacy, and international organizations involved in Southeast Asian strategic studies.

History

Established in the early 1970s amid the New Order era, the institute emerged at a time shaped by the legacies of the Indonesian National Revolution, the 1965–66 political transition, and Sukarno-era foreign relations. Early activities intersected with networks connected to the Asian Development Bank, the Ford Foundation, and the Rockefeller Foundation as donors and collaborators. During the Suharto presidency the center interacted with ministries such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, while engaging scholars associated with the University of Indonesia, Gadjah Mada University, and the Bandung Institute of Technology. In later decades the center expanded engagement with ASEAN, the United Nations, the World Bank, and bilateral missions from the United States Embassy, the British High Commission, and the Embassy of Japan. Key moments in its evolution correspond with Indonesia’s reformasi period, interactions with the International Crisis Group, the Lowy Institute, and the Brookings Institution, and participation in dialogues alongside the Asia Foundation and the EastWest Institute.

Organization and Governance

The institute’s governance structure has included a board of trustees, an executive leadership team, and program directors drawn from backgrounds linked to the Indonesian National Armed Forces, the Indonesian Ministry of Defence, the Indonesian National Police, and former cabinet officials. Boards have featured individuals who served in provincial administrations, the Corruption Eradication Commission, and diplomatic posts to countries such as Australia, China, and the United States. Institutional governance has been influenced by relationships with universities including Monash University, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. Oversight and advisory roles have at times involved former parliamentarians from the People’s Consultative Assembly and representatives from the Pacific Islands Forum, the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, and the International Monetary Fund.

Research Programs and Publications

Research programs encompass topics tied to South China Sea disputes, maritime security, counterterrorism, economic diplomacy, and environmental policy intersecting with the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. Project teams collaborate with specialists from the Center for a New American Security, the RAND Corporation, Chatham House, and the Council on Foreign Relations to produce reports, policy briefs, and working papers. Regular publications and flagship series have appeared alongside conferences modeled on the Shangri-La Dialogue, the Munich Security Conference, the East Asia Summit, and the IISS annual reviews. The center’s outputs have been cited in analyses by the United Nations Development Programme, the International Labour Organization, and scholarly venues including the Journal of Contemporary Asia and Pacific Affairs.

Policy Influence and Advocacy

The institute has engaged in advocacy and advisory roles for Indonesian administrations, parliamentary committees, and regional forums such as ASEAN Regional Forum and the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting. It has provided briefs for delegations to the United Nations General Assembly, trade teams negotiating under ASEAN Free Trade Area and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership frameworks, and delegations to the G20. Policy influence has extended to security dialogues involving delegations from China, Japan, India, Australia, and the United States, and to cooperation forums with the European Union External Action Service and the African Union Commission.

Funding and Finances

Funding sources historically have included grants from foundations such as the Ford Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation, project support from bilateral development agencies including USAID, DFAT, JICA, and KfW, and commissions from multinational corporations and Indonesian conglomerates. Financial oversight has involved audit practices influenced by donors such as the Open Society Foundations and partnerships with international auditors engaged by institutions like the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. Budgetary allocations have supported programs with sponsors from the European Commission, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and private-sector partners in Jakarta and Singapore.

Partnerships and International Engagement

The institute maintains partnerships with regional think tanks including the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, and the Habibie Center, as well as global institutions such as the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the Atlantic Council, and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. It has hosted delegations from the United States Department of State, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, and the People’s Republic of China’s diplomatic missions, and collaborated on projects with UNESCO, the World Health Organization, and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Engagements have included joint programs with the East Asia Forum, the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council, and the ASEAN Secretariat.

Criticism and Controversies

The institute has faced scrutiny over alleged donor influence and transparency, with critics citing links to foreign foundations, corporate sponsors, and domestic political figures tied to the Suharto network and later administrations. Academic commentators and watchdog groups such as Transparency International and journalists from international outlets have questioned conflicts of interest in commissioned research and advocacy. Debates have arisen over its role in security policy discussions involving the Indonesian Armed Forces, proprietary research for private sector clients, and engagement with contentious issues like natural resource concessions, maritime boundary disputes, and counterinsurgency strategies.

Category:Think tanks in Indonesia