Indonesian Journal of International Relations

AIR POWER AND REGIONAL SECURITY: ASSESSING INDONESIA’S AIR DEFENSE STRATEGY IN THE CONTEXT OF ASEAN REGIONAL

Refa Defanda — 2026-02-19

This study examines Indonesia's air defense policy within the context of ASEAN regional security. It employs the concept of Air Superiority alongside the Regional Security Complex Theory (RSCT) to analyze significant acquisitions such as the Rafale fighter jet, the F-15EX, participation in the KF-21 Boramae program, the deployment of the NASAMS system, and multilateral exercises like Garuda Shield. The findings indicate that Indonesia's modernization efforts are a response to challenges to its sovereignty, frequent violations of its airspace, and emerging threats including drone and missile proliferation. Regionally, these enhancements to Indonesia's air power are altering the security balance in relation to well-equipped ASEAN neighbors such as Singapore and Malaysia, while also reinforcing ASEAN's cooperative but non-binding security mechanisms. The primary contribution of this study is its demonstration that Indonesia's modernization efforts strengthen national deterrence and promote regional stability, while also highlighting the limitations of ASEAN's institutional framework. Future research should include operational assessments and scenario-based exercises to better anticipate Indonesia's evolving role in ASEAN security

DIGITAL DIPLOMACY AS DENIAL: ISRAEL'S STRATEGIC RESPONSE TO FAMINE ALLEGATIONS AND GENOCIDE ACCUSATIONS IN GAZA

Muhammad Alfian Maulana — 2026-02-19

This study examines how Israel employs digital diplomacy as a strategy of denial in response to international accusations regarding the use of starvation as a weapon of war and mass murder in Gaza. Utilizing W. Timothy Coombs' Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT), the research identifies a systematic pattern of denial that includes three key strategies: attacking the accuser, outright denial, and scapegoating. Through qualitative descriptive analysis, the study reveals that Israel's digital communication acts as a coordinated crisis management mechanism, rather than a spontaneous public messaging effort. The strategy of attacking the accuser seeks to delegitimize institutions such as the International Criminal Court (ICC) by portraying them as biased or politically motivated. The denial strategy creates an alternative narrative that illustrates Gaza as being unaffected by starvation, while the scapegoating strategy shifts moral and legal responsibility onto Hamas. The findings conclude that state-led digital communication can effectively negate empirically substantiated humanitarian crises and reshape the moral narrative surrounding armed conflict.

PHASED MARKET ACCLIMATIZATION AND PERIODIC ECONOMIC RESILIENCE: INDONESIA RESPONSE TO THE RUSSIA–UKRAINE WAR (2020–2025)

Dharma Feriawan — 2026-02-20

This study examines Indonesia's response to external economic shocks triggered by the Russia–Ukraine War from 2020 to 2025. It follows a phased process of market acclimatization and periodic economic resilience. Grounded in the theory of economic resilience—encompassing absorptive, adaptive, and transformative capacities—and perspectives on global supply chain restructuring, the research employs a qualitative descriptive-analytical approach. The analysis utilizes secondary trade data from TradeMap and SatuData (Ministry of Trade), exchange rate statistics from Bank Indonesia, and official trade and food policy documents to trace shifts in commodity flows, import structures, and policy responses. The findings indicate a sequential trajectory of resilience. Initial financial stabilization, reflecting absorptive capacity, occurred from 2020 to 2021. This was followed by policy recalibration, demonstrated through subsidy adjustments and import diversification, which showcased adaptive capacity from 2022 to 2023. Finally, between 2024 and 2025, structural reforms in trade configuration and food diversification signified the emergence of transformative capacity. These results suggest that Indonesia's response evolved from short-term stabilization towards progressively institutionalized economic resilience

IMPLEMENTASI PRAKTIK PERDAGANGAN ADIL TERHADAP PEKERJA TEKSTIL PEREMPUAN DI SRI LANKA

Kezia Regina Setyono — 2026-02-20

This study investigates the implementation of fair-trade practices by Patagonia, with a focus on the treatment of female textile workers in Sri Lanka. It employs a qualitative research method using a case study approach and relies on secondary data. The analytical framework is based on the fair-trade principles established by the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), which emphasize economic justice, the protection of workers' rights, and the empowerment of women. The results indicate that women make up the majority of the textile sector in Sri Lanka. However, they are often marginalized as low-wage, non-technical workers, relegated to lower production roles with limited opportunities for economic advancement. There is a notable discrepancy between the fair-trade narrative promoted by Patagonia and the actual conditions faced by female workers in production. These findings suggest that the practices implemented by Patagonia and its supplier factories do not fully align with the core objectives of the WFTO's fair-trade principles

THE ROLE OF THE UNITED NATIONS OF WOMEN IN ADDRESSING GENDER INEQUALITY IN EDUCATION IN ETHIOPIA THROUGH THE NATIONAL ACTION PLAN PROGRAM IN 2021-2023

Eka Dwi Yanti — 2026-02-20

This study analyzes the role of UN Women in addressing gender inequality in Ethiopia’s education sector through the 2021–2023 National Action Plan (NAP). Using a qualitative descriptive method supported by document analysis and the theories of constructivism, international organizations, and gender equality. The study reviews NAP implementation through programs such as the Gender Transformative Norm Project, the Leadership for Results Programme, and the Education Equality for Climate Resilience Programme. The findings indicate improvements in women’s access to education, shifts in social norms, and stronger coordination between UN Women, the Ethiopian government, and local stakeholders. However, cultural resistance, limited resources, and disparities in educational quality continue to hinder progress. The study concludes that reducing gender inequality requires sustained long-term strategies and multi-sector collaboration to build an inclusive and gender-responsive education system that supports transformative and lasting change.

IRONI PENJAGA PERDAMAIAN: KETIDAKPATUHAN STRUKTURAL DAN KEKERASAN SEKSUAL OLEH PASUKAN PERDAMAIAN PBB DI WILAYAH KONFLIK

Selvia Ranti — 2026-02-23

This article aimed to analyze violations through sexual violence committed by United Nations (UN) peacekeeping forces in conflict areas, focusing on the causal factors and the lack of legal accountability for the perpetrators. Using a qualitative descriptive method and compliance theory, this study revealed that the non-compliance of UN peacekeeping forces with their mandate and international law occurred at the organizational structural level, caused by weak accountability mechanisms and legal immunity granted to the perpetrators. The research findings showed that sexual violence committed by UN peacekeeping forces was not merely individual violations, but demonstrated systemic organizational failure in preventing, supervising, and holding accountable for such actions. This research emphasized the need to strengthen the enforcement of international legal systems and accountability mechanisms for perpetrators of sexual violence in conflict areas to address the root causes of organizational non-compliance.

BEYOND IDEOLOGY: AN EXPLORATORY CASE STUDY OF WOMEN’S DISENGAGEMENT PATHWAYS FROM TRANSNATIONAL TERRORIST NETWORKS IN INDONESIA

Machya Astuti Dewi — 2026-02-25

This study analyses factors influencing the disengagement of Indonesian women from transnational ISIS-affiliated networks. Utilizing the Attitudes-Behaviors Corrective (ABC) Model and gendered push-pull theory, this study presents a qualitative case study of three former ISIS sympathizers through semi-structured interviews. The research identifies three disengagement pathways: (1) relation-ideology disengagement through a partner with shared experiences; (2) behavioral disengagement via vocational training in prison and humane treatment from officers; and (3) religious interpretation disengagement through self-directed pragmatic accommodation. Findings show that women's disengagement is more relationally and practically oriented rather than rooted in organizational or ideological motivations, highlighting that their departure from these networks is not solely ideology-driven.