The Strategic Role Of Indonesia's Geopolitics In The Implementation Of The International Halal Regime

Abstract

This article examines Indonesia's strategic position in the increasingly institutionalized framework of international halal governance, shaped by interactions between state and non-state actors. The objective of this research is to analyze how Indonesia can leverage its geopolitical advantages, including its demographics as the country with the largest Muslim population in the world, its strategic location, and its active diplomacy, to influence this governance framework and promote its national interests amid significant constraints. The main issues investigated are the tension between state sovereignty and the growing power of multinational corporations (MNCs), as well as the challenges of domestic institutional coordination and regional competition for leadership. Using a qualitative descriptive methodology with a geopolitical and international system theoretical framework, this study conducts a literature-based case study. Data was obtained from national policy documents, global industry reports, and corporate publications, analyzed through qualitative content analysis to understand strategic narratives and governance dynamics. The findings show that although Indonesia has significant geopolitical influence, its ability to act as a global rule-maker is limited by the hegemonic influence of multinational corporations (MNCs) in setting standards, fragmentation among domestic institutions (BPJPH, MUI), and competition with neighboring countries such as Malaysia. This study concludes that Indonesia's effective transition from policy recipient to norm-setter in the halal system depends on a coherent geo-economic strategy that integrates effective diplomacy in forums such as ASEAN and the OIC with strong capacity building for domestic industries and strategic partnerships.