A comparative analysis of Indonesia and Malaysia’s foreign policy towards the persecution of Muslims

Abstract

Indonesia and Malaysia are predominantly Muslim countries, yet when it comes to foreign policy dealing with the persecution of Muslims worldwide, their approaches are different. Three case studies (concerning Palestinian, Rohingya, and Uyghur minorities) show that Indonesia’s foreign policy has been milder in response to Muslim persecution, unlike Malaysia’s, which has taken a more assertive approach. This article argues that the different approaches stem from the distinct roles of Islam in society. In Malaysia, Islam has been part of the Malay identity and is constitutionally recognized, thus it plays a legitimizing role in foreign policy. In contrast, Indonesia has adopted pan-religionism in the constitution, which does not prioritize one religion over others, even though Islam is the majority religion in the country.