Article
HEDGING IN A MULTIPOLAR WORLD: Indonesia’s Strategic Narrative on Joining BRICS
Journal Publicuho, Vol. 9 No. 1 (2026), hlm. 417–428
Abstrak
Indonesia's decision to join the BRICS in January 2025 marked a significant moment in the dynamics of the country's foreign policy, which has long been known for its doctrines of free and active membership and non-alignment. Although the literature on BRICS and the hedging strategies of middle powers has grown, studies specifically explaining how Indonesia constructs discursive legitimacy for this strategic move are still limited, particularly in the context of an increasingly fragmented multipolar global order. This study aims to answer the question of how Indonesia's strategic narrative is constructed to justify BRICS membership without negating the fundamental principles of free and active membership. This study analyzes Indonesia as a case study through a qualitative approach. Data were obtained from official government documents, speeches and policy statements, and interviews with foreign policy experts. The findings indicate that Indonesia constructs three interrelated layers of narratives: a system narrative supporting a more equitable multipolar world, an identity narrative reinterpreting free and active membership as a proactive multi-alignment strategy, and a policy narrative emphasizing economic pragmatism and geopolitical hedging. The novelty of this research lies in revealing how strategic narratives function as diplomatic instruments to legitimize significant foreign policy realignments. These findings extend strategic narrative theory by demonstrating their role in middle power hedging strategies and have important implications for Indonesian policymakers navigating relations with the West, BRICS, and ASEAN centrality.