Japanese ‘Foresight’ magazine has named Paramadina University Rector, Anies Baswedan, Ph.D, one of 20 prominent figures who will play big roles in the world the next two decades.
The Tokyo based news monthly recently published a special cover story entitled: “20 Persons 20 Years”, which listed 20 persons (from all continents) to be watched in the next 20 years.
Mr.Baswedan was included in that list along with names such as Vladimir Putin (Russia), Hugo Chavez (Venezuela), David Milliband (UK), Rahul Gandhi (India) and Paul Ryan (member of US House of Representative). Mr.Baswedan is the only person from Southeast Asia included in this list. (Rest of names in the list provided below *).
The magazine wrote that the grandson of AR Baswedan – a Minister of Information during the revolution and one of the founding fathers of Indonesia – forecasted to be one of Indonesia’s promising future leaders. ”He is a moderate Moslem who consistently stands in the middle, not affiliated with any political parties or groups,” the magazine said (http://www.shinchosha.co.jp/foresight/what/what.html). According to the magazine, Mr.Baswedan’s neutral, just, and consistently balanced views has garnered enormous trust from all communities, including many political elites. Hence, Mr.Baswedan continues to remain non-partisan although many political observers had already named him as a potential candidate for the national leadership and many Indonesia political groups were keen to have Baswedan joins their parties.
Prior to this, the US magazine Foreign Policy named Mr.Baswedan one of the world’s top 100 public intellectuals in 2008 and the World Economic Forumincluded him in the 2009 Young Global Leaders.
Mr.Baswedan -- who is now a host of weekly Metro TV talk show, “Save our Nation” -- says that many accolades given him actually show appreciation of Indonesia. ”I feel the world has been paying more attention to Indonesia,” said Baswedan who recently was invited to give talks in various international forums in Tokyo, London, Copenhagen and Madrid. This May 2 to 6 Mr.Baswedan will also give a speech in the ’Young Global Leaders Summit’ in Tanzania.
Paramadina’s spokesperson, Syafiq Assegaff, said that the honor from Foresight reflects the big role that the educational sector is playing. ”We can see that Mr.Baswedan is the only educator listed in the magazine,” Syafiq said.
Mr.Baswedan has headed Paramadina University since 2007 and has successfully brought its reputation to a higher standard by showing leadership and remarkable modern management, combined with his vision and fresh ideas. According to Baswedan, the management of any university should be based on a professional business model. “The university has to be run in a modern way and linked strongly and mutually with the private business sector,” said Baswedan. Among the breakthroughs conducted by Paramadina is the fellowship system, which provides ‘escalators’ into better life prospect for bright students who came from less fortunate family backgrounds.
Foresight is a monthly news magazine published by one of Japan's oldest and major publishing companies Shinchosha. It is a quality news magazine looking into international news and analyses as well as domestic politics and economy. It has done extensive feature works on Chinese economy, terrorism, global population, North Korea, China-Taiwan relations, Japan-U.S. relations, War in Iraq, Japanese bureaucracy and auto industry. Its’ overseas network spreads to more than 30 countries throughout the world. Among others, the magazine has interviewed futurist Mr. Alvin Toffler and President of Kazakhstan Mr. Nursultan Nazarbayev.
Mr. Baswedan holds a Doctorate in Philosophy from Northern Illinois University, a masters degree in Public Policy from University of Maryland School of Public Policy, College Park, US. Mr.Baswedan’ publications include “Political Islam in Indonesia: Present and Future Trajectory,” Asian Survey, a Bimonthly Review of Contemporary Asian Affairs published by University of California, Berkeley, Indonesian Politics in 2007: The Presidency, Local Elections and The Future of Democracy published by BIES, Australian National University and numerous op-ed articles in leading newspapers and magazines in Indonesia.
He was actively involved in the Indonesia’s student movements during Suharto's authoritarian regime. He is known as one of a few student leaders from the early 1990s movements who won Fulbright scholarship and went abroad for graduate education. He is now a prominent political analyst in Indonesia and as often referred to as one of Indonesia's youngest university presidents.
In June 2009, Mr.Baswedan was elected moderator of the first presidential debate ever run in Indonesia, broadcasted live by all TV network and no less than 100 million viewers in the country. He is also known as a member of the Team of Eight, appointed by President Yudhoyono to investigate the criminal charges against two commissioner of the Corruption Eradication Commission brought by the Indonesian Police. It was a very high profile case that became center of media attention for weeks. More than one million Facebookers pledged their supports for the two commissioners. Mr.Baswedan was elected by the Team to be the spokesperson. His systematic, eloquent and diplomatic remarks during the continuous press conferences at the times of crisis had helped to clarify facts and reduce political tension.
*) Rest of names included in the Foresight magazine:
- Ngozi Okonjo-Iwaela, First Woman Finance Minister Nigeria;
- Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, brother of Uni Arab Emirate Emir, Syeikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, also Manchester City club owner;
- Hassan Khomeini, grandson of the late Ayatullah Khomeini of Iran;
- Rama Yade, Senegal born State Minister for Sport of France;
- Thomas Hoegh, film producer and CEO Arts Alliance, Norway;
- Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, Muslim League President Pakistan;
- Virachai Virameteekul, Minister for Prime Minister Office, Thailand;
- Hu Chunhua, Secretary, China Communist Party for area of Inner-Mongolia;
- Jack Ma, online trading owner Alibaba.com, China;
- Terry Guo, Richest Conglomerate Taiwan;
- Lee Jae Yong, the only son of Samsung owner and founder Lee Kun-hee;
- Tochisako Atsumasa, President Micro Finance International Corporation in Washington;
- Ito Joichi, CEO CreativeCommons, Japan.
- Seif Al-Islam Al Qaddafi, son of Libya’s leader Muammar Qaddafi.
