Singapore's Role in Indonesia's Confrontation of Malaysia and the Impact of Confrontation on Singapore-Indonesia Relations

Abstract

This dissertation examines Singapore¿s role in Confrontation and how Confrontation has affected Singapore-Indonesia relations. Indonesia¿s Confrontation policy against Malaysia is examined from the perspective that it was a significant event to the re-organisation and development of the international relations of Southeast Asian post-colonial states, with a special focus on the Indonesia-Singapore relationship. This dissertation argues that it is through an analysis of Singaporean and Indonesian perspectives, strategic interests and behaviour with regard to the concept of Malaysia and Malaysia¿s formation that we can understand better why the conflict started and took the course it did. Finally, this dissertation argues that Singapore played a significant role in shaping the development of Confrontation, which therefore influenced the nature of bilateral relations before, during and beyond Confrontation.