In Indonesia, terrorism is a threat that affects the nation’s social/political order and bring light to tensions existing in the country. Indonesia has the largest Muslim majority globally; however, Indonesia is a secular country adopting a liberal reform of Islam and accepting religious tolerance towards other minorities. However, terrorist groups have voiced their radical opinions on Indonesia’s secularism calling for the country to be an Islamic state and achieve these goals through violence. The Indonesian government has taken counter-measure to tackle these terrorist threats, but these measures are criticized by Human Rights Organisations (HRO). Because Indonesia has created many anti-terror repressive laws, violating the freedom of speech and the task force Densus 88 has broken many Human Rights Violations (HRV). This brings into question is terrorism the overall threat towards Indonesia, I would argue no but state that terrorism must be a risk that does possess a threat, however, cannot endanger Indonesia’s democratic institution. I would argue that Indonesia’s anti-terror laws are a danger to Indonesia’s democracy and Indonesia’s Counter-Terrorism (CT) agencies violate human rights laws (HRL). These are the overall threats that endanger Indonesia’s democracy and why treating terrorism as a risk can be approached with de-radicalization programs. I will explain how Indonesia can treat terrorism as a risk and not an existential threat like climate change and can be mitigated with soft-approach policies, and I will outline the dangers of the hard-approach undertaken by the Indonesian government. read more

Terrorism is often an act of violence, or threat to act, that is politically or religiously charged. A true worldwide definition of terrorism does not currently exist, yet there are specific characteristics that we can link to the concept. One of the struggles of understanding terrorism in academic debates stems from the lack of a solid definition. It has been argued by many scholars that such a definition cannot ever exist (Jackson et al. 2011). Difficulties scholars have agreeing on a definition of terrorism come from it being contextually determined, and definitions in this area can often include political bias. Over-generalized definitions are mostly what we have been left with around the world. Indonesia’s Anti-terrorism Law (ATL) of 2002, gives a description of terrorism. This law does not define terrorism in any strict sense but instead claims that the crime of terrorism can be any act that fulfils elements of the crime under this law. There are critical terms left undefined and therefore subjective to various interpretations, such as ‘widespread atmosphere of terror or fear’. Widespread is not defined to a radius, neither is fear define to a degree. The vague terms included in this description has been criticized for being applicable to various cases that may not involve terrorism (Butt, 2008). A lecturer at Murdoch University, Dr Ian Wilson (2020), argues that there are no terrorist organizations, there are only political groups that use terrorism as a tactic. This is important to understanding the link between terrorism and politics in Indonesia. The motives of these groups are politically charged and stem from a discomfort with Indonesian democracy. read more

Just like other part of the world, “Social science has been shaped by dynamic competition between academic and political power” argued by Prof. Jian-Bang Deng in our second book series (19/3/2021) entitled above.  Entitled “Social Science and Transformation of Society: An Observation from Sociology Development in Taiwan”, Prof. Deng – a professor of sociology in Tamkang University and a former visiting professor in the PSSAT/CESASS – identifies three stages in the development of sociology in Taiwan, and covers three main roles of sociology: sociology as a marginal science, sociology as a challenger to the state power, and sociology as a reflective science. read more

[SEA-TALK #37]

Book Discussion Series #1 on “Social Science in the Age of Transformation and Disruption: Its Relevance, Role and Challenge”

The first – from eleven – book discussion series on CESASS’ edited volume: “Social Science in the Age of Transformation and Disruption: its Relevance, Role and Challenge” was lively on Monday (1/1/2021). Prof. Dr. Hermin Indah Wahyuni, the director of Cesass opened the discussion. Strongly committed to revitalizing social science, she invited more engagement for social scientists now and in the future. The book is originated from an international symposium on social science organized by Cesass in 2018 (https://ugm.ac.id/id/agenda/431-international-symposium-on-social-science-2018). Consisting of eleven chapters from fourteen international authors, this first discussion was a tribute to the late Dr. Herry Priyono, SJ., who contributed his thought on: “Social Science and the Pedagogy of Transformation” (chapter 5). read more

SOCIAL SCIENCE IN THE AGE OF TRANSFORMATION AND DISRUPTION: Its Relevance, Role, and Challenge

Edited by Hermin Indah Wahyuni and Vissia Ita Yulianto

In soul and spirit, the social sciences seek not to take things for granted, but rather critically understand our social world both in theory and in practice. There are huge challenges ahead, as increasingly complex social issues are entangled with the most interdependent global society ever. Within this context, the social sciences must bring about a more just, equal, and inclusive society by conducting more grounded interdiscipilinary research in responding to the critical issues of our time. read more

IKAT: THE INDONESIAN JOURNAL OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN STUDIES

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
A SPECIAL ISSUE: “LAW AND CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA” (July 2021)

Issue Editor: Agung Wardana, S.H., LL.M., Ph.D.

This special issue of IKAT invites papers submissions under the theme of Law and Contemporary Issues in Southeast Asia published in July 2021. The sub-themes include, but are not restricted to:

Law and Technology
Law and Sustainable Development
Law, Change, and Social Justice
Law and Marginalised Communities (Women, Indigenous Peoples, LGBTQ, Persons with Disabilities, etc) read more

Conference Proceeding “Symposium on Social Science: Rethinking the Social World in the 21st Century”

Symposium of Social Sciences is a biannual international conference arranged by Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies, Universitas Gadjah Mada. This symposium was held under the theme of “Rethinking the Social World in the 21st Century”. The conference proceedings book is consisting wide range of topics under the field of social sciences, most notably during the context of disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the topics are divided broadly into two streams, which are Dimensional Issues in Social Science and specific issues in various branches of the social sciences, such as but not limited to: Law, Technology, and Society; Women and Human Rights Issues; Religion and Multiculturalism; Communication and Media in the Digital Era; and Film and Social Change. read more

For those who want to learn more about our neighbouring country Vietnam. See more here on its ideology by a Vietnamese scholar Tran Ti Dieu here in IKAT current issue: https://jurnal.ugm.ac.id/ikat/article/view/56279

Climate crisis and the Covid 19 outbreak are key themes along with new research methodology strategies in the Pacific Journalism Review. This edition has been published in partnership with Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta with several papers from “Rethinking the Social World in the 21st Century” symposium in August being published. For full edition click here https://ojs.aut.ac.nz/pacific-journalism-review/issue/view/45

When it comes to Vietnamese exports, the first item that comes to mind for most people might be Vietnamese coffee. Indeed, this famous good lies among the many items exported out of Vietnam which has led to the establishment of these marketable industries. However, this article will not be exploring these conventional exports but will focus on a lesser-examined good instead- the Vietnamese bride.

This ‘economic good’ of the Vietnamese bride can be located within the larger phenomenon of the mail order bride industry. As defined by Sarker, Cakraborty, Tansuhaj, Mulder and Dogerlioglu-Demir (2013), this industry can be seen through “international marriage brokering agencies as mail order bride services”. In highlighting the centrality of brokering agencies to the market, this definition helps distinguish a bride that is specifically sold as an international ‘product’ against her fellow compatriot who marries overseas, outside of the system. Hence, this serves to demarcate and economise the human bride into a commercial good, which is arguably problematic due to its dehumanising undertones. However, for the purpose of understanding how this industry can be perceived using an economic lens of analysis, these terms will be used in the course of examination below. read more