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Iran, Indonesia can join forces against ‘new forms of colonialism’
“Learning from Iran,” he stressed, should not mean copying a particular model. Instead, it should open up a dialogue between national experiences and help develop shared ideas for the future.
Drawing on the thought of Imam Khomeini, Jahangiri described independence as encompassing political, economic, intellectual, cultural and spiritual dimensions. A nation, he argued, can be politically independent while remaining dependent on external sources of knowledge, cultural frameworks and technological systems. He warned that contemporary colonialism can take subtler forms, shifting from territorial occupation to control over information, technology and knowledge production. In the age of artificial intelligence, he described “technological slavery” and “epistemic slavery” as emerging forms of dependency.
“If societies become merely consumers of technology, data and knowledge produced and managed by others,” he said, “a new form of colonialism will emerge.”
Jahangiri also underscored the role of public participation, saying national strength rests not only on institutions but also on social solidarity and citizens’ sustained engagement in times of peace, hardship and reconstruction. He urged Iranian and Indonesian thinkers to examine what colonialism looks like in the 21st century and develop practical pathways toward “epistemic liberation,” scientific self-reliance and technological sovereignty.