Evolution of Indonesia’s National Security Strategy (NSS) from 1988 to 2024

Indonesia's strategic location between the Asia-Australia and Indo-Pacific oceans underscores its critical role in regional security. Understanding its NSS requires examining how defence and security intersect with economic and political factors, shaping both national and regional stability. Over the past three decades, Indonesia has faced diverse challenges, including conventional, unconventional, internal, and external threats. This study analyses Indonesia’s NSS from 1988 to 2024, examining its evolution in the absence of a security council and formal governmental guidance. It explores the adaptation of the NSS through sociological theories encompassing military, political, and economic dimensions. This study examines the transformation of Indonesia’s NSS from an authoritarian regime that prioritized security and stability over developmentalism to a democratic framework following political reforms. During the reform era, democratisation was prioritised through decentralisation followed with economic nationalism and elite influence with focus on resilience and self-sufficiency. Institutionally, Indonesia’s NSS evolved from the military’s dual-function doctrine to a dual-tier oversight system under civil supremacy, reshaping civil-military relations (CMR). However, elite influence continued to shape security complexities. Indonesia’s perception of risks and threat has changed also; from protecting the state’s ideology by authoritarian regime, to building public trust while improving civil competency in fighting extremists. The post-reformation era elite power hindered security initiatives and weakened oversight and security measures. Meanwhile, civilian’s role in NSS expanded significantly—from limited participation to active engagement in governance reforms. This shift fostered public trust, increased civil influence on security policies, and promoted human rights and equality. This thesis investigates four key aspects of Indonesia’s NSS: the evolution of its priorities over time, modifications in security institutions, shifting perspectives on risks and threats, and the growing involvement of civilians. Findings reveal that Indonesia’s NSS struggles to balance security demands, social ideals, public engagement, and a dynamically changing political environment.