HOW STATE AS RATIONAL ACTOR FIGHT FOR ITS INTERESTS: A STUDY ON REDD + RENEGOTIATION IN INDONESIA

Raihan Malcolm Pramudyo, Dr. Maharani Hapsari, S.IP., M.A.

2026 | Skripsi | Ilmu Hubungan Internasional

This thesis examines the Indonesia strategic renegotiation of its REDD+ bilateral cooperation and how Indonesia managed to push Norway to restructure their demands in the cooperation. Using journals, books, and articles  this thesis analyses the interaction of Norway and Indonesia as well as their interaction with each of their own domestic actors. The thesis will also emphasize the beginning of the bilateral cooperation until its renegotiation dating back from 2010 until 2022. Using Robert D. Putnam’s Two-Level Games Theory as conceptual framework, this thesis argues that Indonesia's renegotiation happened because of Indonesia’s domestic political changes under the administration of President Joko Widodo, that narrowed the country’s win-set under the 2010 Letter of Intent, compelling a renegotiation at the international level.

 

The thesis starts with how the 2010 Letter of Intent was favorable for Norway, reflecting their preferences of transparency, accountability, result-based payment, and Independent agency to supervise the program. However, after Joko Widodo (Jokowi) got elected as the new President of Indonesia, things started to change. Unlike his predecessor who was willing to surpass the domestic constraint in favor of international reputation, Jokowi, focusing on economic growth, started to advocate the demands of domestic actors that are affected by the REDD+ cooperation . Those actors were the extractive industry owners and the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The disbandment of the National REDD+ Agency in 2015 marked the first move from Indonesia to engage in informal renegotiation by using its domestic constraints as a bargaining tool. 

 

The study further shows that Norway, fearing a complete break of its flagship program and reputational consequences that will follow, was ultimately compelled to recalibrate its term in the cooperation. Indonesia’s strategic action to terminate the 2010 Letter of Intent in 2021 served as the ultimate weapon for the renegotiation. Leading to the establishment of the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding, an agreement that gives Indonesia much more autonomy to the cooperation while also maintaining Norway's demand of result-based payment. Showing how recipient states that utilize its domestic constraints carefully, can dominate the cooperation from its donor partner.  

This thesis examines the Indonesia strategic renegotiation of its REDD+ bilateral cooperation and how Indonesia managed to push Norway to restructure their demands in the cooperation. Using journals, books, and articles  this thesis analyses the interaction of Norway and Indonesia as well as their interaction with each of their own domestic actors. The thesis will also emphasize the beginning of the bilateral cooperation until its renegotiation dating back from 2010 until 2022. Using Robert D. Putnam’s Two-Level Games Theory as conceptual framework, this thesis argues that Indonesia's renegotiation happened because of Indonesia’s domestic political changes under the administration of President Joko Widodo, that narrowed the country’s win-set under the 2010 Letter of Intent, compelling a renegotiation at the international level.

 

The thesis starts with how the 2010 Letter of Intent was favorable for Norway, reflecting their preferences of transparency, accountability, result-based payment, and Independent agency to supervise the program. However, after Joko Widodo (Jokowi) got elected as the new President of Indonesia, things started to change. Unlike his predecessor who was willing to surpass the domestic constraint in favor of international reputation, Jokowi, focusing on economic growth, started to advocate the demands of domestic actors that are affected by the REDD+ cooperation . Those actors were the extractive industry owners and the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The disbandment of the National REDD+ Agency in 2015 marked the first move from Indonesia to engage in informal renegotiation by using its domestic constraints as a bargaining tool. 

 

The study further shows that Norway, fearing a complete break of its flagship program and reputational consequences that will follow, was ultimately compelled to recalibrate its term in the cooperation. Indonesia’s strategic action to terminate the 2010 Letter of Intent in 2021 served as the ultimate weapon for the renegotiation. Leading to the establishment of the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding, an agreement that gives Indonesia much more autonomy to the cooperation while also maintaining Norway's demand of result-based payment. Showing how recipient states that utilize its domestic constraints carefully, can dominate the cooperation from its donor partner.  

Kata Kunci : Renegotiation, REDD+, Norway, Indonesia, Jokowi, SBY, Cooperation