Prof. Paul K. Gellert Kieran and two students, Cole Phelps and Giuliana Nicole Castillo from Department of Sociology College of Arts and Science, University of Tennessee, US gave a lively discussion in Cesass during their visit at the research center on Thursday 05 January 2023.

Following introductions, both sides shared experiences and challenges on Southeast East Asian studies which continued to be contested in current geopolitical atmosphere. Notwithstanding, those factors attract more scholars from multidisciplinary studies both from international and regional Southeast Asia to do research on not only ASEAN but Southeast Asia in general. read more

IKAT: The Indonesian Journal of Southeast Asian Studies ISSN 2580-6580 (Print) 2597-9817 (Online) is an academic, open access, and double blind reviewed journal about Southeast Asian societies and cultures. Founded in 2017 at the Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

The Journal strives to provide new, rigorous and comprehensive knowledge and understanding of Southeast Asia through inter-disciplinary perspectives. Its scopes includes but is not limited to economic welfare, institutional knowledge production, history, political transformations and the social development of information and communication technology in the region. Contributors may focus on an in-depth individual country analysis or on comparing a multi-country case study. Given the mission statement of CESASS, contributors are encouraged to submit empirical, methodological, theoretical, or conceptual articles about Southeast Asia through the eye of social sciences. read more

The Center For Southeast Asian Social Studies of Universitas Gadjah Mada (CESASS UGM) continues to hold the 35th Southeast Asian Chat (SEACHAT) on 23 of December 2022.  This panel discussion was presented by Muhammad Izam Dwi Sukma, CESASS UGM Student Intern from Islamic University of Indonesia. On this occasion, Izam presented his research titled “Reflecting The Role of Yang Di Pertuan Agong to Settle the Political Uncertainty After Malaysia 15th General Election.”

The discussion began with an overview of Malaysia. Starting from its Monarchy government and the political structure. Then he continued to elaborate the conditions of the Malaysian Government prior to the holding of the 15th General Election (GE) on 19 November 2022, after the parliament suspension and the resignation of previous Prime Minister (PM), Ismail Saabri Yakob. Izam underlined that before the 15th GE was held, Malaysia’s political condition could be considered unstable, because there have been three changes of prime ministers in the last 4 years. read more

On December, 20th 2022, at 10.00 (GMT +7) Center of Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) Universitas Gadjah Mada held an online seminar, the 46th South East Asia Talk (SEA Talk). This seminar was inviting Made Supriatma, one of the visiting fellows at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore, whose presentation titled “Dividing The Electorates: Will Indonesian Politicians Exploit Identity in 2024 Election”.

This seminar discussed the role of identity that is embedded in each individual and its potential to trigger and to influence the individual as voters during the general election. Indonesia’s social-cultural landscape, which is diverse, isn’t exceptional from the identity narratives during election campaigns.  read more

Democracy is a system of government in which the people govern by electing representatives. Referring to Dahl, the principle of democracy does not change in how the democratic mechanism in government institutions works. Meanwhile, there is a pathology of democracy where there are deviated forms of implementing democracy where democracy is set up for a dictatorial rule that is happening in Southeast Asia. The practice of dynastic politics then perpetuates the existence of democracy that leads to dictatorial, said Muhammad Nailul in the 34th SEA CHAT series. Muhammad Nailul is an intern student at the Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies who in this SEA CHAT brings a discussion about dictatorship and political dynasties and the role of media on history Politicization. read more

On Tuesday the 6th of December, the Centre for Southeast Asian Social Studies of Universitas Gadjah Mada (CESASS UGM) hosted Eliezar Inigo, a former interning student with qualifications and interests in history and applied linguistics. Discussion within the session centered on the most recent presidential election in the Philippines. The contentious nature of the election in terms of both democratic decline as well as the dubious credentials and lineage of the newly elect President Bongbong Marcus took centre stage. read more

The Centre for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) is proud to have recently hosted its 33rd SEA CHAT, which was delivered via a two-part Zoom conference. This panel discussion featured four speakers from Russia’s Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), who each presented on a socio-political topic and its relevance to Indonesia. 

Gleb Darchenkov spoke first, delivering the “Information Technology in Modern ASEAN” presentation. This presentation provided information about the process of developing Indonesia’s digital economy, the intersection of Indonesia’s Information Technology sector with the country’s approach to foreign policy, and the perception of Information Technology among the Indonesian population. Gleb evidenced that Indonesia’s demographics and population position it as the largest spender on technology in Southeast Asia and the world’s 4th largest mobile market. As a result, Indonesia is witnessing a boom in eCommerce and financial technology which, coupled with a technologically capable population, predicts a high level of competitiveness from Indonesia during a digital era.  read more

The Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies Universitas Gadjah Mada proudly present a panel discussion that held on Friday, 25th November 2022. The panel discussion was SEA CHAT #33 as the monthly program of CESSAS to discuss the current issue in the Southeast Asian Country. In this session, there were two students intern from MGIMO University, Russia as the speakers. 

The first presentation delivered entitled “Cultural Diplomacy between Russia and Indonesia” by Tatiana Putcniakova. Tatiana started the discussion with outlined the topic to understand the definition of cultural diplomacy. Tatiana stated from Barghon’s book said that “Cultural diplomacy is the manipulation of cultural materials and personnel for propaganda purposes” (Barghorn, 1930). Besides, Tatiana also cited the definition of cultural policy that, “Cultural Policy is a set of principles, administrative and financial activities and procedures that provide the basis for state action in the cultural sphere” (The UNESCO report ‘Cultural Policy – Preliminary Consideration, 1967).  Then, Tatiana highlighted that cultural diplomacy used in the international arena for many countries including between Russia and Indonesia.  read more

On Monday, October 31st, 2022, the Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies Universitas Gadjah Mada (CESASS UGM) held a welcoming meeting for Thomas Bartley, a student intern from the University of Adelaide, Australia. Thomas will participate in the internship program at CESASS from November to the end of December to gain experience in research and build networks with Southeast Asia social studies researchers and experts in CESASS.

The meeting started with a brief introduction led by Rizki Dwi Wibawa, CESASS Cooperation Staff, who greeted the intern and explained the research activities and work of the Center, as well as the opportunities provided by the internship. An introduction to fellow student interns and other members of the Center was conducted afterward. They shared their cultural background and exchanged views about their research interests. read more

Last Thursday (27/10), Center of South-East Asia Social Studies Universitas Gadjah Mada (CESASS UGM) held a sharing session with international student intern, Zacharie Nichols-Lang from Murdoch University, Australia. Attended by more than 10 people, Zac explained about “Australia, the Monarchy, and the Commonwealth,” where he underlined that after Queen Elizabeth II died, the discourse of shifting to a republican nation state is rising in Australia. 

Zac opened his presentation by explaining about Australia’s political system which is a combination of British Westminster and the United States of America’s influence. In addition, sharing a fun fact about Australian political culture, Zac also mentioned about “Democratic Snags” or “Democratic Sausages,” a sausage wrapped in a slice of bread that later will be given to every voter across Australia when it comes to national election day.  read more