FISIP Undip, Semarang (10/2) – The journal article titled “Indonesia-ASEAN Partnership to Counter-Terrorism in Indonesia” written by Yeyen Subandi, Hafidz Ridha Try Sjahputra, and Muhammad Subhan, published in the East Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (EAJMR), examines the cooperation between ASEAN and Indonesia in combating terrorism. The authors highlight that terrorism is a significant threat to global security, with Indonesia being a primary target due to its membership in ASEAN and the presence of terrorist organizations such as Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and ISIS.

The article begins by discussing the historical context of terrorism, including the 9/11 attacks in the United States and the Bali bombings in Indonesia. It emphasizes the impact of these events on global security and the efforts made by ASEAN and its member states to combat terrorism. The authors note that ASEAN’s approach to counter-terrorism is primarily through soft law instruments, such as the ASEAN Convention on Counter-Terrorism (ACCT), signed in 2007 but only fully ratified in 2013. This approach reflects ASEAN’s principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of member states.

The study also explores the challenges faced by ASEAN in combating terrorism, including the lack of concrete action despite rhetorical commitments and the difficulty of reaching consensus due to differences in capabilities and national perspectives. The authors argue that the weaknesses and ineffectiveness of ASEAN’s institutional framework have made Southeast Asia a target for terrorist organizations. However, they also highlight the importance of intelligence sharing and cooperation among member states to address these challenges.

The article concludes by emphasizing the need for stronger counter-terrorism coordination within ASEAN, especially in addressing evolving terrorist tactics and the growing threat posed by ISIS. It underscores the importance of regional cooperation and the role of international organizations in addressing the transnational nature of terrorism. The authors use a combination of theoretical frameworks, including international organization theory and international regimes, as well as bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer software to analyze the topic.

Through this research, it is hoped that new insights will be provided into the importance of closer cooperation among ASEAN countries in addressing the increasingly complex and dangerous threat of terrorism.

Source: Subandi, Y., Sjahputra, H. R. T., & Subhan, M. (2023). Indonesia-ASEAN Partnership to Counter-Terrorism in Indonesia. East Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 2(7), 2857-2874.

Information About the Authors:

Muhammad Subhan, S.IP, M.InternatRel, is a lecturer in the Department of International Relations who completed his undergraduate studies (S1) at Universitas Diponegoro and pursued his master’s degree (S2) at Monash University, Australia. Currently, he teaches in the Undergraduate Program of International Relations, with one of the courses he teaches being International Financial Crime. ***

Translator:

Nur Inayah