Indonesia-Africa Relations Through Constructivist Lens: Reinterpreting Bandung Spirit in Contemporary South-South Diplomacy

This study analyses Indonesia’s foreign cooperation strategy toward African countries through a constructivist lens, with particular emphasis on the enduring relevance of the Bandung Spirit in shaping South-South cooperation. Since the historic 1955 Bandung Conference, Indonesia has positioned itself as a bridge between Asia and Africa, promoting solidarity, anti-colonialism, and shared development goals. Recent initiatives, including the Indonesia-Africa Forum in 2018 and 2024, demonstrate Jakarta’s efforts to expand cooperation in key sectors such as trade, energy, and industrial technology. This study employs qualitative document analysis of Indonesian foreign policy strategies, official statements, and Indonesia-Africa Forum documents from 2015 to 2024. Drawing on Alexander Wendt’s theory of Collective Identity Formation, this paper argues that Indonesia’s engagement with Africa is driven not only by economic considerations but also by the construction of a shared collective identity rooted in historical struggle and common developmental aspirations. The findings highlight three key dimensions historical ties, shared norms of solidarity, and sustained social interaction that reproduce Bandung Spirit values and align Indonesia’s Africa policy with Africa’s Agenda 2063 and Indonesia’s middle-power aspirations. Ultimately, the paper underscores the Bandung Spirit as both a normative foundation and a strategic tool for revitalizing Asia-Africa solidarity and enabling the Global South to collectively address contemporary challenges such as inequality, climate change, and sustainable development.