Seventy years after the historic Bandung Conference of 1955, where twenty-nine leaders from Asia and Africa united against colonialism and formulated a new vision for the world, the Bandung Spirit remains highly relevant today.
Dean of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada (Fisipol UGM), Dr. Wawan Mas’udi, emphasized that the Bandung Spirit, born from the 1955 Asia-Africa Conference, remains a cornerstone of global collaboration, solidarity, cooperation, and development, as hallmarks of the struggles of Global South nations.
“The Bandung Spirit, as we know it, embodies strength through solidarity, cooperation, and collective development,” said Dr. Mas’udi during the Annual Convention on the Global South (GO SOUTH 2025) held at the Auditorium of Fisipol UGM, on Wednesday (Oct. 1).
According to Dr. Mas’udi, the Bandung Conference marked a defining moment in history that ignited waves of anti-colonial struggle and solidarity among newly independent nations.
However, he noted that today this global emancipation project faces growing challenges, ranging from imperial pressures and internal frictions to debt crises that constrain economic sovereignty and sustainable development.
This year’s GO SOUTH Conference carried the theme “70 Years of the Bandung Spirit: Reinvigorating Decolonial Struggle Amidst Geopolitical Turbulence,” commemorating the seven-decade legacy of the Asia-Africa Conference.
The event featured distinguished speakers, including Professor Vedi R. Hadiz from the University of Melbourne, Professor Yanjie Gao from the School of International Studies, Xiamen University, Dr. Diah Kusumaningrum from Fisipol UGM, Professor Kamari Clarke from the University of Toronto, Muhadi Sugiono from Fisipol UGM, Francisco Urdinez from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, and Professor Poppy Sulistyaning Winanti from Fisipol UGM.
Professor Gao highlighted the vital role of the Global South in driving global transformation, calling for intellectual agency rooted in their historical experiences and aspirations. He emphasized that principles such as non-intervention, solidarity, and self-reliance, which have been deeply embedded in Indonesia’s historical struggles, remain highly relevant today.
Meanwhile, Dr. Diah Kusumaningrum, as this year’s GO SOUTH organizer, reminded us that the world continues to face intense geopolitical turbulence and ongoing decolonial struggles. She also emphasized the importance of academics, students, and affected communities in addressing contemporary challenges, such as climate crises and social activism.
“Global communities continue to express their commitment to freedom and social justice. This is also part of a collective learning process,” Dr. Kusumaningrum said.
In his remarks, Professor Vedi R. Hadiz stressed the importance of understanding knowledge decolonization as a form of academic and social emancipation. He criticized the dominance of Western donors who often shape research agendas in the Global South.
According to him, it is essential to cultivate knowledge systems that arise from the lived experiences of Southern nations, rather than solely following Western donor-driven agendas.
“As researchers in Asia and other developing countries, we may need to find ways to liberate ourselves from donor-driven research demands,” he remarked.
Professor Hadiz also drew attention to the ongoing exploitation of natural resources in Indonesia, describing it as one of the “dark corners” often overlooked, yet reflective of internal colonial practices by the state toward its own people.
He added that, in international cooperation, Indonesia remains heavily dependent on foreign investment, particularly through downstream industry and infrastructure projects. Although often framed as South-to-South cooperation, such collaborations are, in reality, dominated by the interests of political and economic elites.
The conference brought together practitioners and scholars from 13 countries across the Global South, including Mr. Vijay Sardaraj, Deputy Head of Mission of Afghanistan.
This year’s GO SOUTH series was supported through collaborations with Xiamen University, Global Humanities Alliance, UGM’s Department of International Relations, and the Institute of International Studies, UGM.
UGM Vice-Rector for Research, Business Development, and Partnerships, Dr. Danang Sri Hadmoko, expressed his appreciation during the welcome dinner held the previous day.
“The long journey undertaken by all delegates demonstrates their dedication to be here. Today’s dialogue and seminar embody our shared efforts to exchange visions, knowledge, and empathy toward a better world. The process may still be in its early stages, but the collective spirit will undoubtedly lead to remarkable achievements,” he stated.
Authors: Cynthia Noviana and Kezia Dwina Nathania
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Photographs: Fisipol UGM