The Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) initiated by Indonesia in 2008, is an annual, inclusive and open intergovernmental forum on the development of democracy in the Asia Pacific region. The forum is aimed to promote and foster regional and international cooperation in the field of peace and democracy through dialogue-based on sharing experiences and best practices that adhere to the principle of equality, mutual respect and understanding, with the participating countries sharing its ownership.
In Indonesia’s view, democracy is not only about a successful general election. Democracy needs to be consolidated and rooted in every aspects of Indonesian national life.
Furthermore, democracy, as enshrined in the value system of Pancasila as the philosophy of the nation, needs to be projected in Indonesia’s foreign policy. Therefore the promotion of democracy is an integral part of Indonesia’s foreign policy, particularly in the Asian Region.
Indonesia stresses the importance on how democracy should be built in the region based on its main principles which are: (i) Democracy cannot be imposed from outside. Every political development should be a ‘home-grown’ experience. It is something that must be constructed on the basis of a nation’s own historical experience and cultural conditions; (ii) it is imperative for the world’s community of nations; regardless their ideological affinity and political allegiance, to learn from each other in perfecting the methods of governance so they can better serve the larger goals of prosperity and peace. The process of mutual learning and sharing of experience would further vet the nature of democracy as a unifying factor.
For more information please visit http://bdf.kemlu.go.id/
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