Journal of Integrative International Relations

Navigating Indonesia’s Engagement with China’s Belt and Road Initiative

Isti Nur Rahmahwati — 2025-11-01

This study analyzes Indonesia’s engagement with China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in the context of strategic leverage, utilizing Maritime Axis narrative as its instrument. Instead of relying on Colley’s and Noort’s buy-in framework, this article develops the interplay of narrative and diplomatic engagement within the framework of strategic leverage. Strategic leverage is an alternative framework unveiling how Indonesia with its middle-level of power proactively and flexibly shape and navigate its engagement with China’s BRI, moving beyond a binary framework of acceptance and rejection of the BRI. The leverage as a bottom-up process is used to pursue strategic goals, balancing the interaction of materialism and ideational dimension. Focusing on Indonesia, this study highlights three forms of leverage: bargaining, investment, and resource leverage. Qualitative methodology is applied in this study, concerning narrative and behavioral analysis. The result is that Indonesia’s engagement with China’s BRI is part of the country’s strategic leveraging cycle rather solely a buy-in behavior as proposed by Colley and Noort.

Dampak Kerjasama Kontraterorisme Filipina – Amerika Serikat di Mindanao (2022-2023)

Senia Nur Agista — 2025-11-01

This study analyzes the impact of Philippine-US counterterrorism cooperation in Mindanao during the period 2022–2023, using a neoliberal institutionalism approach and the concept of international regimes. The results show that cooperation between the two countries not only survived after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, but actually intensified through the strengthening of legal frameworks such as EDCA, joint military exercises, and intelligence and capacity building support. This cooperation is symbiotic: the Philippines receives security and economic support, while the US strengthens its influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Although the counterterrorism approach is still dominated by military aspects, there are efforts to address the root causes of the conflict through civil-military programs. This study concludes that the institutionalized cooperation regime has succeeded in creating stability and trust, although its sustainability depends on the ability of both countries to integrate security approaches with economic development in Mindanao.

Diplomasi Ekonomi Indonesia Dalam Meningkatkan Hilirisasi Industri Nikel Pasca Larangan Ekspor Bijih Nikel (2020-2024)

Tantri Maria Anindita — 2025-11-01

This study describes Indonesia's economic diplomacy strategy for promoting the nickel industry downstream following the implementation of the nickel ore export ban policy in 2020. The author will review Indonesia's economic diplomacy efforts or strategies in promoting the nickel industry downstream following the 2020 nickel ore export ban using the concepts of economic diplomacy and dependency theory. The author employs a qualitative approach through a literature review. This study found that Indonesia's economic diplomacy employs a combination of bilateral and multilateral approaches, including establishing cooperation with key partners such as China and South Korea. This diplomacy is carried out to maintain the downstream policy and attract foreign investment to develop the nickel processing sector. Despite facing challenges from the European Union through the WTO, Indonesia remains determined to maintain this policy aiming to create domestic added value and reducing dependence on raw material exports. These findings demonstrate how economic diplomacy serves as an effective instrument in achieving Indonesia's national interests.

Analisis Implementasi Kebijakan Perlindungan Data Pribadi dalam Perdagangan Digital di Indonesia Berdasarkan eTrade Readiness Assessment

Tsuroyya Maulida Muhtar — 2025-11-01

Indonesia's digital economy is soaring, yet beneath the surface, a fragile data protection landscape threatens to undermine public trust and national security. This analysis critically examines the implementation of Indonesia's Personal Data Protection Law (UU PDP) 2022 by revealing a significant gap between legislative intent and effective execution. Despite rapid e-commerce growth, public awareness of data protection remains alarmingly low with over half of respondents exhibiting poor understanding. Drawing on UNCTAD's Multi-Stakeholder Consultations as the third stage of Indonesia eTrade Readiness Assessment, the study highlights persistent challenges consisting of weak law enforcement, fragmented regulations, and limited institutional capacity as evidenced by recurring major data breaches. A comparative analysis with Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea further underscores Indonesia's lagging readiness in cybersecurity and data protection. The article argues that without comprehensive regulatory harmonization, institutional strengthening, and enhanced public education, Indonesia's ambition to become a leading digital economy will remain vulnerable and jeopardize both economic growth and digital sovereignty.

British’s Bush On The Iberian Peninsula: Analisis Sekuritisasi Inggris Terhadap Sovereignty & Dilema Keanggotaan Schengen Gibraltar Pasca-Brexit

Aura Azzahra Adriesa — 2025-11-02

This study examines the securitization strategy advanced by the UK government concerning Gibraltar’s sovereignty and its fraught relationship with Schengen membership in the post-Brexit period. The research focuses on border control methods and official statements and how Gibraltarians react to these measures as their main point of object referent. The research establishes new knowledge through its investigation of speech acts and public opinions and its evaluation of state actions which convert border matters into national security threats. The research uses qualitative case-study methodology to analyze secondary documents which include official statements and legislative instruments such as the Protocol on Gibraltar and related agreements and media reports and discourse analysis. The research reveals three connected systems which work together to achieve their goals: (1) Speech acts serve to validate British control over UK Overseas Territory; (2) Gibraltarians support British sovereignty yet they want to maintain their European freedom of movement; (3) The UK implements three exceptional border control systems which combine military patrols with dual identification checks and special border procedures to defend their sovereignty while creating more travel obstacles. The research establishes a direct link between political statements and actual border changes and institutional developments which shows that securitization like used as function to maintain current sovereignty structures (status quo) instead of creating lasting solutions for border movement. The research results include vital policy recommendations which impact multilevel negotiations that occur on the Iberian Peninsula

Advokasi Transnational UN Women terhadap Kekerasan Berbasis Gender Online di Indonesia (2021-2023)

Maura Putri Rahmat — 2025-11-02

Reports from SAFEnet and Komnas Perempuan indicate a significant increase in Online Gender-Based Violence (OGBV) in Indonesia during 2021-2023. This study addresses the previously under-researched role of UN Women, employing a qualitative case study based on reports from UN Women, Komnas Perempuan, SAFEnet, and government policies. Through Keck and Sikkink's Transnational Advocacy Networks (TANs) framework, this research delineates UN Women's transnational advocacy mechanisms through four core strategies: information, symbolic, leverage, and accountability politics. UN Women functions as a strategic connector that consolidates discourse and pressure across diverse actors disseminating campaigns (#WTFMedia, #OrangeChallenge), partnering with Meta and TikTok, and supporting the passage of the 2022 Sexual Violence Crime Law (UU TPKS). However, its effectiveness is constrained by patriarchal norms, weak law enforcement, and regulatory disharmony. Theoretically, this study expands the application of TANs to intergovernmental organizations, demonstrating that transnational advocacy mechanisms can operate from within global institutional structures, not solely from civil society.

Diplomasi Budaya Indonesia melalui Kelas Gamelan di Korea Selatan pada Tahun 2021-2025

Shafa Ramadhakhalisha Lestiono — 2025-11-23

This study analyzes the implementation of gamelan classes as an instrument of Indonesian cultural diplomacy in South Korea during 2021–2025. Aker the Covid-19 pandemic, relations between Indonesia and South Korea strengthened, particularly through cultural and educational exchanges. The Indonesian Embassy in Seoul, in collaboration with the Seoul Institute of the Arts (SIA), revived gamelan classes as a medium of direct cultural engagement. Using a descriptive qualitative method, this research draws data from news articles, KBRI Seoul social media posts, and academic literature. Content analysis was employed to examine narratives, cultural representations, and communication strategies reflected in the program. The ﬁndings show that gamelan classes operate as an effective form of sok power, aligning with Nye’s concept of attraction and the cultural diplomacy frameworks of Melissen, Lenczowski, Patjinska, and Simon Mark. Beyond introducing traditional Indonesian music, the program promotes Indonesia’s image through values of harmony, collaboration, and cultural identity. Overall, this research highlights the relevance of participatory, learning-based cultural diplomacy in fostering closer relations between South Korean society and Indonesia and supporting long-term cooperation.

Diplomasi Publik Pemerintah Provinsi Jawa Timur melalui East Java Fashion Harmony Tahun 2022-2024

Lintang Fajarianti — 2025-11-29

This Study is an analysis about the public diplomacy conducted by the East Java Provincial Government through East java Fashion harmony (EJFH) in 2022-2024. EJFH is an annual fashion agenda designed to promote the archipelago’s at the international level. EJFH can also be implemented through international cooperation with Australia. This study uses descriptive qualitative methods with data obtained through news articles, direct interviews with the marketing staff of the East Java Department of Culture and Tourism, as well as academic literature related to public diplomacy. In this study, qualitative data analysis was used and presented in the form of a narrative. The result of this study shows that EJFH succeeded in presenting East Java's culture through public diplomacy. The implementation of EJFH not only introduces Indonesian culture but also strengthens Indonesia’s image through cultural introduction and cross-country collaboration. This study emphasizes the importance of introducing local culture through public diplomacy and also supports the strengthening of international cooperation.