The foreign policy objectives of Saudi Arabia and Iran in Indonesia

This thesis seeks to understand Iran's and Saudi Arabia's foreign policy objectives in Indonesia and how these relations impact both the government's decision making and people. Iran and Saudi Arabia's foreign policy objectives have been discussed in so many literature but special attention has not been given on their competitive influences as a mean of gaining soft power in Indonesia. This study will focalize only on Indonesia to determine the bilateral and diplomatic relations between the country and Iran and Saudi Arabia. The thesis intends to make a comparative study between Iran's and Saudi Arabia's foreign policy objectives, and see the similarities and differences in the objectives of the foreign policy between the two countries. The foreign policy of the two countries are based on national interest but the objective of spreading religious doctrines continue to act as a fundamental factor in the foreign policy objectives of the two countries. This study uses a qualitative research method and the sources are based on secondary data that have been used in literature. The study concludes by showing the rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia and some cases are provided to see how their foreign policy objectives have led to the creation of religious institutions and organizations in Indonesia. Some of these institutions and organizations have been involved in religious conflicts and even terrorist attacks.