Indonesia's Construction of Digital Leadership in ASEAN from the Perspective of Critical Geopolitics

Abstract

Against the backdrop of the digital economy reshaping geopolitical configurations, regional digital competition, uneven development within ASEAN, and great-power rivalry have introduced significant uncertainty into Southeast Asia's regional order. Indonesia has long
been regarded as ASEAN's natural leader. Employing the analytical framework of critical geopolitics and integrating identity perceptions with
the logic of power in the information age, this paper argues that Indonesia's construction of digital leadership in ASEAN is rooted in the digital extension of its traditional Mandala geopolitical thought, its officially affirmed identity as a "middle power, " and the two-way interdependence between Indonesia and ASEAN in the digital domain. To consolidate its regional influence, Indonesia has pursued a multidimensional
strategy: strengthening national digital sovereignty internally to prevent digital colonization; adopting a neutral balancing strategy externally
amid Sino–US digital competition to become an intermediary beneficiary; projecting an image as a regional pioneer and leader through its
digital economy prowess; and firmly upholding ASEAN centrality within multilateral frameworks. Together, these pathways constitute Indonesia's digital leadership system, which not only serves its Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision but also profoundly shapes ASEAN's digital integration process and regional geopolitical order.