Hatta and Indonesia's Independent and Active Foreign Policy: Retrospect and Prospect.

The article reviews the edited volume *Hatta and Indonesia's Independent and Active Foreign Policy: Retrospect and Prospect*, which examines Indonesia's foreign policy doctrine initiated by Vice President Mohammad Hatta in 1948. The book focuses on how the principle of an "independent and active" foreign policy, emphasizing national interest and pragmatism over ideological alignment, has influenced Indonesia's foreign policy decisions across different presidential eras. While the volume highlights the role of domestic politics and presidential idiosyncrasies in shaping policy, it also critiques Indonesia's engagement with regional and global issues, including relations with China, ASEAN centrality, and cyber defense. The review notes the book's accessible style and its value for readers seeking a concise understanding of Indonesia's foreign policy development, though it points out the limited exploration of religion's role and Hatta's personal motivations behind the doctrine.