Empty Promises: Indonesia’s Non-Ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court

Southeast Asia is one of the most underrepresented regions in the InternationalCriminal Court (ICC). I address the question of non-ratification of the Rome Statutewith a case study on Indonesia. While the Yudhoyono Administration has repeatedlypromised to join the ICC, ratification has not materialized. I argue that Indonesia’stradition of emphasizing the protection of state sovereignty and economic gains in itsforeign policy decisions best explains why it remains outside the ICC’s jurisdiction. Itest this claim by exploring Indonesia’s human rights record, potential legalrestrictions for the ratification of the Rome Statute, and the influence of domesticpolitical players and external pressures.