Editor's Desk

Mitchell Belfer

Crisis Mismanagement and the European Parliament

There is an air of dread across Europe. The outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus (re: COVID-19) has sent Italy into national quarantine with Spain and France a short sprint behind. The rest of the EU, Switzerland, Norway and the UK are bracing for their turn, enacting a series of restrictive measures to cushion the impact of one of the most aggressive coronaviruses in living memory. While this global health pandemic unfolds, other crises continue to lap at Europe’s frontiers: acts of human…

Monica Duffy Toft: Securing the Peace: The Durable Settlement of Civil Wars

Book Review

Jasmina Ameti

Monica Duffy Toft: Securing the Peace: The Durable Settlement of Civil Wars

‘Why do some civil wars end, and stay ended, while others reignite?’ This is the central question that Securing the Peace, by Monica Duffy Toft, poses. In addressing the question, the book discusses advantages and disadvantages of terminating a war by negotiated settlements, and absolute military victory of a government or a rebel group, or ceasefires and stalemates. Based on a statistical analysis of war recurrence, the author argues that, even though negotiated settlements are the most…

Gerard Toal: Near Abroad: Putin, the West and the Contest over Ukraine and the Caucasus

Book Review

Javadbay Khalilzada

Gerard Toal: Near Abroad: Putin, the West and the Contest over Ukraine and the Caucasus

It is unimaginable that in the 21st century a powerful country could invade a neighboring country and annex part of its territory simply because it does not like its neighbor’s politics. Though there have been some anti-terrorist and regime-change operations by powerful countries like the United States in failed states like Afghanistan or despotic ones like Iraq, the U.S. did not officially annex the countries it occupied. However, as Gerard Toal, political geographer, discusses in his book,…

Issue 14:1

Jaroslava Bobková

NGOs in Global Governance: Securing Role through Engagement at the United Nations? (Case Study – Global Policy Forum)

What is the role of NGOs at the United Nations, and, by extension, in global governance? With limited possibilities to measure it directly, this article adopts discursive analysis as an innovative approach to the issue. Analysis of three texts by Global Policy Forum represents an important insight into the question and a tool for further research. It shows that despite the relative increase of their participatory rights at the UN, NGOs seem to realise approaching a point of saturation in what…

Issue 14:1

Aleksey Pavlovich Anisimov, Nina Vladimirovna Mirina, Anatoliy Jakovlevich Ryzhenkov

Contemporary Legal Issues of Ensuring Food Security in the Post-Soviet Space (in Terms of Russia)

The article deals with theory and practice of ensuring food security in the Russian Federation in the context of the UN recommendations and achievements of legal thought of foreign countries. Food security is considered as a guarantee of sustainable development of agriculture located at the junction of three types of national security: economic, social and environmental. The authors prove the need to distinguish between the categories “food security” and “food independence”, arguing in favor of…

Issue 14:1

Nsemba Edward Lenshie

Ethno-Religious Identity and Intergroup Relations: The Informal Economic Sector, Igbo Economic Relations, and Security Challenges in Northern Nigeria

Nigeria operates a multidimensional and complex system in which ethnicity and religion have found expression in a competitive environment to exclude other groups. This study aims to examine how ethnicity and religion underlie the hostility and violence in the economic relations between Hausa-Fulani and Igbo people in northern Nigeria. Using documented evidence, the study argues that economic relations between Igbo people and Hausa-Fulani ethnic group have remained unpalatable since the 1960s,…

Issue 14:1

Ehab Khalifa

The Impact of Smart City Model on National Security

Smart cities could help overcome traditional problems of big cities, such as pollution, traffic congestion and administrative corruption. They can stimulate economic productivity, accommodate population growth, and make lives more convenient, but at the same time, they raise many security threats to national security.Daily life needs in smart cities are based on information and communication technologies. Houses, infrastructure, transportation, communication, government services, as well as…

Issue 14:1

Mark Kleyman

Multiculturalism and Community Building in Urban Europe

In the years lasting back to 2015 Europe has been faced with an unprecedented influx of migrants. In most cases they seek refuge from civil wars and dictatorships that devastate many countries across North Africa and the Middle East. As a consequence, migration is becoming an increasingly urgent issue of many public and scholarly debates. In this context, the crucial problem is what type of multicultural society every European country and the EU in general want to be. This problem is…

Issue 14:1

Lucie Zimmermanová, Zdeněk Kříž, Eva Doleželová

Thinking of Russia: Finnish Neutrality after the Cold War and the Influence of Russian Neighborhood on Finnish Cooperation with NATO

In recent years, Finland has closely cooperated with NATO and Finnish politicians emphasize that Finland may consider joining the Alliance at any point. However, this step is unlikely in the foreseeable future. Russia’s aggressive actions abroad disconcert Finland; as this article shows, even after Russia’s war with Georgia and the breakout of the crisis in Ukraine, the situation is not deemed serious enough by the Finns for them to risk a serious deterioration of relations with their eastern…

Issue 13:4

Arfin Sudirman, Jeniar Mooy, M. Fauzan Malufti, Rizki Ananda Ramadhan

Militarising the Natuna Islands for Indonesia’s Gunboat Diplomacy

This paper examines the significance of Indonesia’s plan to militarize outer islands as a leverage for Indonesia’s gunboat diplomacy and deterrence effect in the South China Sea conflict. The South China Sea dispute involving China, several ASEAN member countries and the United States (US) has been highlighted to be the most intense maritime conflict in the last five years. In 2015, the Indonesian Defence White Paper perceived that the conflict poses potential threat to Indonesia’s outer…

Issue 13:4

Mohammad H. Al-khresheh

Guest's Analysis: The Role of Security Sector and Democracy in Promoting Sustainable Development: Global Challenges and Solutions

The world is on the brink of collapse. Plagued with complex and multi-dimensional problems that threaten its sustainability, it is the task of everyone in the society to save it from this decline which has evidenced itself in many ways including the rising insecurity. Security is important in ensuring sustainable development as citizens can only innovate when they are safe. One of the ways to ensure this is through the practice of real democracy. Thus, the road of democracy is the path to peace…

Issue 13:4

Ratnia Solihah, Siti Witianti, Mustabsyirotul Ummah

Political Perspective of Indonesian Civil-Military Relation in the Reform Era

Civil-military relations will always be interesting to discuss in the democracy system. It relates to power supremacy in a state. Indonesia Post-Reformation of 1998 finds a turning point for civil-military relations. In the five different leadership periods, discover the differences in the patterns of civil and military relations in Indonesian democracy. This paper focuses on the dynamics of civil-military relations in Indonesia for five periods of government (BJ. Habibie, Gus Dur, Megawati,…

Issue 13:4

Suwaji, Windy Dermawan, Rizki Ananda Ramadhan

The Role of Indonesian Airforce in Disaster Management for Assisting with Natural Disaster

Geographically, Indonesia has a high degree of possibility regarding natural disasters. As a state internal security keeper, the Indonesian Air Force should be in the front-line in dealing with natural disasters in line with the mandate of Law Number 34 of 2004, which is "protecting the whole nation and the whole of Indonesia's blood from threats and disruption to the integrity of the nation and state". The facts that occur in the field, the Indonesian Air Force still has some problems related…

Issue 13:4

Munip Suharmono, Akim, Arfin Sudirman

TNI Intelligence’s Role on Preventing Global Terrorism Threat in Indonesia

Strategic moves of counterterrorism in Indonesia are seen as moderately comprehensive. The evidence is the involvement of all stakeholder to prevent terrorism, intelligence is one of many elements of counterterrorism that is exposed by public, they believe that intelligence is failed and careless in terrorism act in Indonesia. We choose the TNI intelligence as an object analysis of this study above all other intelligence units that are signed to prevent global terrorism act. The involvement of…

Issue 13:4

Jose Fernando Lopes Ximenes, Wawan Budi Darmawan, Akim

The Role of the Indonesian Air Force in Safeguarding the Border Area of the Republic of Indonesia in East Nusa Tenggara (Ntt)

The state border is a geographical area which become an arena for power struggle between countries, where some countries struggling to expand the boundaries among them. As a state security and defence keeper, the Indonesian Air Force should be in the front-line while safeguarding the border area of the Republic of Indonesia, especially in the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) from transnational threats, especially human trafficking, radicalism and terrorism, border disputes, and smuggling problems. This…

Issue 13:4

Novie Indrawati Sagita, Nandang Alamsah Deliarnoor, Dian Afifah

Local Content Curriculum Implementation in the Framework of Nationalism and National Security

Since regional autonomy was implemented in Indonesia, local government has the authority to diversify education by establishing local content curriculum. The the implementation of local content curriculum was not carried out optimally, both in West Java Province and Riau Islands. Local content curriculum is only limited to local language lessons but it does not have an impact on language preservation as well as the cultivation of regional cultural values. The purpose of implementing local…

Issue 13:4

Pradipta Nindyan Saputra, Arfin Sudirman, Obsatar Sinaga, Wahyu Wardhana, Nurul Hayana

Addressing Indonesia’s Cyber Security through Public-Private Partnership (PPP)

Nowadays, a number of countries are developing alternative approaches to handling their cybersecurity, including Indonesia. Badan Siber dan Sandi Nasional (State Cyber and Cryptography Agency (BSSN)) as an institution appointed by the Indonesian government to be the national cybersecurity coordinator has the responsibility to securing the national critical information infrastructure (IIKN). The IIKN responsible for governmental and private infrastructures including the energy, transportation,…

Issue 13:4

Yusup Rahman Hakim, Arry Bainus, Arfin Sudirman

The Implementation of Counter Narrative Strategy to Stop the Development of Radicalism among Youth

The phenomenon of radicalism is still an interesting issue for both national and international politic scholars. Considering the improvement of technology and globalisation, the radical groups are adjusting their movement, they abandon traditional methods and go for more modern ones. The radicalisation process, through online media and radical narration, is highly effective to influence and recruit the youth. This paper aims to analyse the method to fight against the narration with the unit of…

Issue 13:4

Windy Dermawan, Akim, Febriani Amalina Shalihah

Conflict in South Sudan

This research aims to find out the urgency and challenges of making conflict resolutions in South Sudan related to their impact on human security issues. The research method used is a qualitative research method with technical data collection in the form of literature studies using several previously journals with similar topic. For the approach, the theories and concepts used are human security and conflict resolution management. As a result, the impact of this conflict on aspects of human…

Issue 13:4

Akim, Windy Dermawan, Attar Rakha Al Yazsa, Mohamad Fadel Ramadhan

Conflict in Northern Mali

This research aims to identify threats to human security in Mali because of the ongoing conflict in the country. From the identification carried out, researchers also sought to offer alternative conflict resolution as a form of problem-solving in Mali. As guidelines of data collection and analysis, this research uses the concepts of human security and conflict resolution. The method used to collect and analyse  data is qualitative methods. The conflict that occurred in Mali shows that the…

Issue 13:4

Hendra Manurung, Arry Bainus

Process and Resolution of the Papua Problem

The emergence of a conflict is absence of mutual relations between two or more parties who have or feel they have incompatible goals. Conflict is emergence of never-ending perspectives about differences in interests where the aspirations of conflicting parties cannot be achieved simultaneously through peaceful harmonious consensus. The Papua problem requires a comprehensive and integrated solution by stakeholders who concerned with the future of economic empowerment and political awareness of…

Issue 13:4

Windy Dermawan, Akim, Christian Vieri, Pangersaning Gusti Bayu Alam

Environmental Security and Plastic Waste Pollution

This research aims to analyse the pollution of plastic waste that poses a threat to environmental security and alternative conflict resolution that can be carried out by various actors. Researchers also tried to address the response of international actors, both countries and international organisations to the pollution of plastic waste. The concept used in this research is environmental security as a non-traditional security concept that develops both as a concept and issue in International…

Issue 13:4

Chandra Purnama, Windy Dermawan, Ghiyats Akmaluddin

Indonesia’s Role towards Myanmar in Assisting to Resolve the Humanitarian Crisis in Rohingya (2014-2018)

This research aims to analyse the forms of role carried out by Indonesia during the Joko Widodo administration in assisting to resolve the humanitarian crisis in Rohingya. To analyse this, researchers firstly explore the elements that formed the role of Indonesia by tracing the national role conception of Indonesia (ego's role conception) and role recommendations of Indonesia (alter's prescription), both of which formed Indonesia's position in international relations. This position determines…

Issue 13:4

Akim, Neneng Konety, Chandra Purnama, Firda Rosyana Rachmawati Amantjik

Securitisation of Halal Issue in Southeast Asia Region

Halal now becomes the new emerging trend in the global world. It can be reflected by the Securitisation  act of halal issues that has been done by many countries, both the majority-muslim and also the minority-muslim countries. This article discusses about Securitisation  of halal issues in Southeast Asia region with the focus in Indonesia and Thailand. The research method used is comparative qualitative with primary and secondary data collection from interviews and also some sources of books,…

Issue 13:4

Noor Sulastry Yurni Ahmad

Is Malaysia Begged to Differ from the Global ‘Vista’ Democracy?

In the Malaysia’s 2018 General Election, the supremacy of Barisan Nasional (National Front), started to deteriorate when the two-third usual majority suddenly successfully is being denied. However, the transformations in Malaysian’s socio-political culture have created some evolutions and repercussions in line with the current development. The scenario has been observed through some different phases that prolonged from traditional Malay Sultanate of Malacca to an open practice in the recent…

Issue 13:4

Muhammad Budiana, Muhammad Fedryansyah, Yusa Djuyandi, Ramadhan Pancasilawan

Indonesia Military Power under the Increasing Threat of Conflict in the South China Sea

In the international maritime system, the South China Sea (SCS) region holds economic, political, and strategic values. However, it is also the source of longstanding disputes among the countries within the region. For Indonesia, potential conflicts in the SCS might arise not only from China’s assertive territorial claims over the sea but also from fellow ASEAN countries. With the SCS waters contiguous to Indonesian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), protecting Indonesian national interests in the…

Issue 13:4

RMT Nurhasan Affandi, Windy Dermawan, Gilang Nur Alam

In Refer to Societal Security Dealing with the Radicalisation in West Java, Indonesia

This research aims to examine how to deal with radicalisation in West Java, Indonesia. To achieve this goal, researchers focused on the efforts of  the national institutions in dealing with radicalisation, for instance through educational institutions such as universities and boarding schools; regional governments represented by regional apparatus organisations, for example the public education institution at the municipality level, the Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Terorisme (National Counter…

Issue 13:4

Rachmad Gustomy, Laode Machdani Afala

Digital Trace and Critical Discourse Networking under Jokowi Government (2014-2018)

Digital media is one of the pillars of democracy. The media serves various expressions that support the government or criticize the government. Both are present along with the development of democracy and the rapid progress of digital media. This paper intends to explain the digital trace of Joko Widodo government over his period of power. By using DNA (discourse network analysis) and discourse analysis, this study observes how the criticism of the Jokowi government in 2014-2018 through digital…

Issue 13:4

Muhammad Arsy Ash Shiddiqy, Arfin Sudirman

Comparison of Indonesian Military Strength with Southeast Asian Countries and Probability for an Open War

The security conditions in Southeast Asian region are relatively safe and peace. There have never been direct confrontations or head-to-head wars between countries in the region, if ever there had been a confrontation between Indonesia and Malaysia, but that did not happen. During the cold war era, security in Southeast Asia was guaranteed by the two super powers, the United States and the Soviet Union. Something bias happen in this region, when the cold war ends European countries are…

Issue 13:4

Siti Aliyuna Pratisti, Taufik Hidayat, Deasy Silvya Sari

Festive and Viral

One of the most significant phenomena is the emergence of political identity that moves participation further from the conventional political platform. The Occupy Wall Street movement and the Arab Spring are suitable examples for postmodern politics which characterize by unstructured movement that was no longer based on traditional political party system. In Indonesia, a non-conventional political participation guided by self-actualization and identity driven motive, is performed by various…

Issue 13:4

Wahyu Gunawan, Keri Lestari, Margo Purnomo, Deasy Silvya Sari

Indonesian Presidential Election 2019

This article aims to explain the ideal construct of Indonesia democracy after the 2019 presidential election which is colored by the conflict of two blocks known as cebong vs kampret. This shows that democracy cannot be separated from conflict. However, despite the ongoing conflict, is it possible for Indonesia to build an ideal construction of Indonesian-style democracy? Democracy in 2019 Presidential election is an indicator of political development in Indonesia, whereas all state…

Issue 13:4

Siti Witianti, Ratnia Solihah

The Influence of Public Debate on the Political Preference of Communities in the Presidential Election in 2019

Public debate is one form of political campaigning carried out at the campaign stage in the presidential and vice presidential elections in 2019 with the aim of influencing the political preference of the people. Besides being able to influence people's political preference, public debate (political debate) between presidential candidates and vice-presidential candidates in the 2019 Presidential Election is also expected to increase the political participation of the public. Through public…

Issue 13:4

R. Widya Setiabudi Sumadinata, RMT Nur Affandi, Dina Yulianti

Sectarian Narratives of the 2019 Presidential Election and the Radical Transnational Network

The 8th presidential election in Indonesia occurring in 2019 was heavily peppered with religious narratives and the mobilisation of sectarians. As a result, as found in several observation reports, the demographic analysis of each candidate's vote revealed a sectarian split where Joko Widodo’s landslide victory occurred in all provinces where the majority of the population was not Muslim and his considerable defeat in many Muslim-majority areas. This is a big threat to the sustainability of…

Issue 13:4

Dede Sri Kartini

Civil Servant Neutrality on 2019 General Election in Indonesia

Theoretically, bureaucracy should be neutral from political affairs. This neutrality should be implemented by current regime. In fact, ASN (civil servant) is prohibited to get involved in political activity such as attending political campaign and activity (including non-campaign activity such as taking picture with the campaign participant, etc). According to researchers, this ban is similar with as if the ASN is prohibited from having political preferences, and this is contrary to the nature…

Issue 13:4

Luthfi Hamzah Husin, Nuruddin Al Akbar

Beyond the Binary Logic of Populist Articulations in 2019 Indonesian Election

This study seeks to highlight the emergence of Sexy Killer documentary as an important tool in an effort to encourage the rearticulation of democracy in a more substantial direction. This study is important in the middle of the trend of re-Democratisation  that is taking place but is moving in a symbolic direction without meaning (the battle between the fantasy figures of ‘cebong’ and ‘kampret’). Furthermore, the rearticulation of democracy towards symbolic direction tends to be a binary…

Issue 13:4

Rendy Adiwilaga, Mustabsyirotul Ummah Mustofa, Muhammad Ridha Taufik Rahman

Quo Vadis Islamic Populism? An Electoral Strategy

This paper discusses how far Islamic populism as an old social movement, especially in Indonesia, rises as a new form of polarisation in the electoral mechanism in Indonesian democracy nowadays. Considered as the main group of religion in Indonesia, Indonesian Muslims appear as a contested object by the political elites to gain a vote. Yet, it is hard to conclude or even make a clear conclusion that Islam in Indonesia represented by one group, as in Egypt and Turkey. The dualism of Islamic…

Issue 13:4

Yusa Djuyandi, Rahmah Ramadhani

The Effectiveness of Political Identity in Post 212 Movement

The 2019 election did not escape from a variety of cases and issues, whether this is entirely affected or not at all. Elections are also an arena of competition that does not escape cheating, which can hurt the ongoing campaign period until the election. But most of the issues contained in this election period have a background regarding political identity. The emergence of 212 movements that initially aimed to convey the anger of the Muslim masses over the attitude of the Governor of DKI…

Issue 13:4

Ratnia Solihah, Arry Bainus, Mudiyati Rahmatunnisa

Jeje’s Political Capital in the Regent Election of Pangandaran Regency in 2015

Political capital is one of the main capitals to be able to follow the political contestation. This political capital was one of the factors that determined the passing of Jeje as regent candidates who following the local political contestation, which eventually became the winner of the political contestation. Various candidates in political contestation often face the problem of ownership of political capital. Likewise, in the regent election of Pangandaran regency in 2015, political capital…

Issue 13:4

Elly Nurlia, Utang Suwaryo, R. Widya Setabudi Sumadinata, Netty Prasetiyani

Woman Leader Victory as the Single Candidate in the Elections in District of Lebak Banten Indonesia in 2018

One of the provinces that contributes to the emergence of women leadership in Indonesia is Banten. Until recently, there are four municipal regions which are chair-headed by female mayors out of the eight regions in Banten Province including Lebak regency. Particularly, Lebak has already conducted a direct local election in June to elect its regional head (regent). Nevertheless, it has a unique and interesting case for further study, namely the re-candidation of the incumbent head as the only…

Issue 13:4

Yusa Djuyandi, Arief Hidayat, Hendra

The Role of Bawaslu Supervision in Handling Disputes Election Results in Indonesia

Elections are an implementation of orderly structured and organized democratic practices. Supervision of elections is needed to ensure that elections run democratically, therefore there is a need for well-organized and competent election oversight bodies. The emergence of violations in the administration of elections has injured the democratic process, and hence the existence of the election supervisory body (Bawaslu) is to conduct surveillance and enforcement of election violation reports.…

Issue 13:4

Ari Ganjar Herdiansah, Yusa Djuyandi, Widya Setiabudi Sumadinata

Extending Aliran Politics in Electoral Contest

Aliran politics is an analytical framework that considered too simplistic and less accurately classifying the political axes of Indonesian socio-political structure. This article, however, shows that aliran still prevails in the form of politicization of identity that reflected in the post 2014. The analysis was constructed through scrutinizing Indonesia election dynamics with put an insight to the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial contest. Some interviews with several political party officials as…

2020 - Volume 14 Issue 3

The Role of the Qods Force in the Foreign Policy of the Islamic…

The establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) in 1979 had a great impact on the question of security in both the region and outside of the Middle East. The foreign policy of the new republic would show hostility and aggression as terrorism became its modus operandi. In order to safeguard…

Making It Personal? A Comparative Study of Institutional…

By treating militarism and personalism as institutional constraints on foreign policy, this article examines the role and influence of these constraints on the foreign policies of Russia and China. By looking at empirical evidence the authors argue that domestic institutional constraints in each…

Conceptualizing Soft Balancing Beyond Cold War. What’s Changed,…

This article is a systematic inquiry into the nature and role of soft balancing in the contemporary theory and practice of international relations. By wading into the contentious debate concerning the place and legitimacy of soft balancing, the article explores the theoretical prominence of the…