The growing global demand for vegetable oils, particularly palm oil, soybeans, rapeseed, and sunflower oil, presents challenges in balancing production with environmental sustainability. This paper examines the European Union’s policies on palm oil biofuels and highlights inconsistencies in its treatment of different vegetable oils. It argues that palm oil can contribute to achieving several …
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) to strengthen economic diplomacy by facilitating outward investment and protecting Indonesian direct investment enterprises (DIEs) overseas. Using SWOT analysis, surveys, and interviews, this paper evaluates the need for a legal framework to improve investment facilitation, protection, monitoring…
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of international cooperation in strengthening national responses to zoonotic diseases. In 2020, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) launched the Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action (ZODIAC) initiative to support member states, including Indonesia, through technical assistance and diagnostic technologies such as RT-PCR. However, ZODIAC’…
This policy paper examines city diplomacy and the role of regional governments in international relations. As globalisation has increased the international presence of subnational actors, such as regions, provinces and cities, these actors have pursued their interests through paradiplomacy alongside central government diplomacy. The paper argues that their increasing involvement can supplement …
This paper examines the role of Indonesian aid in strengthening Indonesia's sovereignty diplomacy, using the Papua issue within the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) as a case study. OACPS comprises 48 Sub-Saharan African, 16 Caribbean, and 15 Pacific member states, raising concern as it includes many frontline countries on the Papua issue with a history of engagemen…
This paper examines the need to refocus strategy in preparing Indonesian diplomats to engage with Papua issues, given that competing narratives on Indonesia's sovereignty over Papua remain dominant in public and academic discourses, while accusations of human rights violations and constant questioning of Papua's history benefit separatist narratives. Indonesian diplomats overseas are tasked wit…
This paper proposes the implementation of a Nonreciprocal Preferential Trade Scheme (NRPTS) to elevate Indonesia's engagement in the South Pacific region, where Indonesia and Pacific countries face common challenges such as rising sea levels and the pursuit of welfare through economic development. Although Indonesia's engagement and partnership have steadily grown at bilateral, regional, and gl…
On Iraq and International Politics provides an analytical overview of Iraq’s role within regional and global political dynamics. The book examines Iraq’s foreign policy strategies, its interactions with neighboring countries, and the broader international forces that have shaped the nation’s modern political landscape. Through historical context and contemporary analysis, the author explo…
This paper proposes establishing a national database and roster system to enhance Indonesia's contribution as a top ten contributor to UN peacekeeping missions, particularly in civilian roles. While Indonesia's military and police participation is significant, civilian engagement remains limited due to the absence of a structured system to identify, prepare, and deploy civilian experts. Through…
This study examines the role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in supporting Indonesia’s Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) accession process. This involves engagement with 26 OECD committees and alignment with over 240 legal instruments. As vice-chair of the National Team, the Ministry faces challenges such as limited institutional arrangements, coordination gaps …