“Polis kocht!” brings together young people, policymakers, and researchers to discuss foreign and European policy around one table.

In recent years, cooperation between so-called middle powers has gained increasing importance in a rapidly changing global order. Germany and Indonesia, both influential actors in their respective regions, are navigating complex geopolitical dynamics, balancing economic interests, multilateral engagement, and shifting alliances. At the same time, Indonesia’s foreign policy principles, including non-alignment, as well as domestic political and social developments, shape its international positioning. Against this backdrop, questions arise about the opportunities and
challenges of closer German-Indonesian cooperation, as well as the role that young people can play in shaping these relations. This event seeks to explore these dynamics from both policy and youth perspectives, with a particular focus on inclusive and forward-looking approaches to bilateral engagement.

To better understand the evolving German-Indonesian partnership and the role of youth in shaping middle-power cooperation, Polis180 warmly invites you to this edition of Polis kocht! For the cooking session, we will prepare ketoprak, a traditional Indonesian dish made of rice noodles, tofu, vegetables, and a rich peanut sauce.

Start: 8th of July from 19:00 at Berlin Global Village.

We are particularly pleased to welcome the following speakers:

Dr. Abdil Mughis Mudhoffir is a Visiting Fellow at the GIGA Institute for Asian Studies and a political scientist specialising in democratisation, civil society, and political developments in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. He has held academic positions at the University of Melbourne and the State University of Jakarta, and his research focuses on issues such as authoritarianism, civil society, and socio-political transformations in Indonesia.

Dr. Felix Heiduk is Head of the Asia Research Division at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP). His work focuses on Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, as well as regional security, geopolitics, and international cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. He has extensive experience analysing political and security dynamics in the region and their implications for Europe.

Event language: The event will be held in English.

Polis180 is a volunteer-run grassroots think tank for foreign and European policy. Since its founding in 2015, Polis180 has promoted young, inclusive, and participatory approaches to policymaking and now counts over 500 members.

Interested? Then register for the event here.

The project „Polis kocht!“ is funded by the Berlin State Center for Civic Education. Additionally the event is supported by IndoHub e.V., a non-profit organization with the aim to strengthen community, exchange experiences, and jointly address challenges for the Indonesian community in Berlin/Germany with a particular focus on young people and women