Oxford Society Indonesia (OXSI) and Pijar Foundation Collaborate to Highlight Indonesia’s Strategic Role in Global Geopolitics

Jakarta, 9 August 2025 – In a world shaped by shifting power dynamics and growing geopolitical complexities, dialogue and collaboration are more essential than ever. Oxford Society Indonesia (OXSI) hosted the Community of Practice (CoP) Discussion Series on Foreign Policy and Geopolitics – Indonesia Perspective in collaboration with Pijar Foundation, bringing together leading voices from academia, public policy, and international networks to discuss Indonesia’s position and opportunities on the global stage.

Pijar Foundation joined to aligning the event with its mission to foster open, inclusive, and future-focused public dialogues that connect multiple sectors in addressing complex national and global challenges.

Our speakers included Dr. Vishnu Juwono an Oxford alumnus who currently serves as Chairman of UI Greenmetric and Associate Professor in Public Governance at Universitas Indonesia and Abid Abdurrahman Adonis, Researcher at the Oxford Internet Institute and President of the Indonesian Students’ Association in Oxford (2022–2023), examined Indonesia’s strategic positioning amid shifting power dynamics, the legacies of post-Trump foreign policy, and the growing relevance of middle powers in a fragmented world order.

The event opened with remarks from Alfi Naufida, President of OXSI, and Cazadira Fediva Tamzil, Executive Director of Pijar Foundation.

Alfi Naufida emphasized the value OXSI brings to Indonesian society through its alumni and diaspora network:

“OXSI is essentially a platform for those who have studied at Oxford to exchange knowledge — both internally and with the public. We believe Indonesian diaspora and returnee have an important role in enriching policy discourse and advancing solutions to national challenges. Events like this are one of the avenues through which we can connect global perspectives with local priorities.”

Collaborating with OXSI reflects Pijar Foundation’s mission to strengthen our role as a non-profit organization and ecosystem, working to catalyze the vision of Indonesia Maju 2045 by focusing on Future Talent and Future Planet. Through our three program pillars — talent development, innovative entrepreneurship incubation, and public policy advocacy — we bring together government, private sector, academia, and communities to co-create solutions for Indonesia’s future.

Representing Pijar Foundation, Cazadira Fediva Tamzil introduced the organization and reflected on its alignment with the event’s objectives:

“At Pijar Foundation, we collaborate across a wide range of sectors — from government and private industry to academia and communities — to drive innovation and address pressing challenges. Our work spans diverse areas, including a collaboration with a venture capital firm on a dedicated program in artificial intelligence, recognizing its critical role in shaping the future of industry. We also work with the British government through the E-Tech Hub to advance technology-driven solutions, and through our public policy program, we facilitate discussions on Indonesia’s policy challenges — not only to address current needs but also to anticipate future complexities.”

The discussion underscored Indonesia’s need to balance domestic resilience with proactive diplomacy, strengthen economic security and technological capabilities, and forge strategic middle-power coalitions to uphold multilateralism. Speakers also pointed to the role of Indonesia’s diaspora as a bridge to global collaboration, particularly in navigating the lasting impacts of “America First” policies, U.S.–China tensions, and other geopolitical shifts.

Abid Abdurrahman Adonis also underscored a foundational principle in understanding foreign policy:

“When we talk about foreign policy, the first principle is to understand what is happening domestically in a country — because that shapes what they want internationally. The second principle is that economic security and technology now form a major key in foreign policy, much like the dynamics we saw during the Cold War.”

This is the second collaboration between OXSI and Pijar Foundation. Earlier this year, both organizations partnered on Kartini Day Talk 2025: Networking Brunch, which celebrated women’s leadership and community-building. Together, OXSI and Pijar Foundation share a commitment to creating meaningful spaces for dialogue and knowledge exchange that strengthen Indonesia’s role in the global arena.

About Oxford Society Indonesia (OXSI)

The University of Oxford Society of Indonesia (OXSI) was established in early 2018 and currently has over 200 members. Its membership includes Indonesian students and alumni, as well as foreign alumni residing in Indonesia. OXSI serves as a bridge between the University of Oxford and Indonesia, with the shared goal of contributing to a more just and prosperous nation.

About Pijar Foundation

Pijar Foundation is a non-profit organization and ecosystem that catalyzes the vision of Indonesia Maju 2045 in the fields of Future Talent and Future Planet. Pijar Foundation has three program pillars: talent development, innovative entrepreneurship incubation, and public policy advocacy. Its programs connect multiple sectors toward Collaborative Governance: the public sector (Government), the private sector, and the community/academia.