Every Indonesian government since 1948 has claimed bebas-aktif as its own. On 23 September in Padang, IIFA in collaboration with Universitas Andalas brought together historians, political scientists and economists from universities, think tanks and other institutions to ask a harder question: does the free and active foreign policy doctrine still protect Indonesia when great-power rivalry runs through supply chains, technology and energy rather than through alliances?

IIFA's opening presentation argued that the goal should shift from keeping distance to building capability. Indonesia would join global networks selectively and judge each partnership by the industrial and technological capacity it leaves at home. Not everyone agreed on what follows. Some debated the doctrine to be rewritten for a multipolar order, while others wanted it kept as a normative anchor and given the capacity to back it. The trade-offs surfaced quickly. Refusing to depend on a single defense vendor protects independence, yet it has slowed cooperation with partners such as South Korea and Türkiye.

One thread ran through the whole day: a doctrine is only as strong as the state that carries it. IIFA will take the discussion forward through further in future sessions.