| dc.description.abstract | This study examines the negotiation process of the 2023 Indonesia-Malaysia
Maritime Boundary Agreement, which was finalized during President Joko
Widodo’s second term. The agreement, which successfully delimited part of
territorial waters in the Malacca strait and Sulawesi Sea, is analysed using Robert
Putnam’s Two-Level Game theory. This framework helps analyse how
international negotiations (Level I) and domestic politics (Level II) interplayed
throughout the process. The agreement’s success wasn’t only the product of
diplomatic efforts but also Indonesia’s ability to secure strong domestic support
through a well-managed distribution of power, preferences, and coalitions among
domestic actors. This study finds that Indonesia’s negotiation strategy, that based
on legal norms (UNCLOS) and proactive bilateral diplomacy, allowed for possible
overlapping win-sets between both states. In addition, coordination among
ministries and agencies will ensure a smooth ratification process and minimized
risk of involuntary defection. This case overview the role of domestic politics in
shaping international maritime diplomacy and can be a lesson for future boundary
negotiations in Southeast Asia. | en_US |
