Sep 23, 2025 | event, IPGSC
At the International Postgraduate Student Conference (IPGSC) organized by the Graduate Program in International Relations, Universitas Indonesia, on October 23-24, 2025, Raden Wijaya Kusumawardhana—Expert Staff to the Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs for Social, Economic, and Cultural Affairs—representing the Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, delivered a keynote address on the dynamics of artificial intelligence (AI), geopolitics, and cyber threats in the digital era.
Raden Wijaya emphasized that the world is now entering a phase where data and algorithms have become strategic commodities, and digital technology functions as the infrastructure of global power. AI not only impacts economic and social innovation but also plays a role in shaping and competing for global power.
AI and the Shift in Global Technology Power
In his address, Raden Wijaya highlighted how the emergence of DeepSeek from China has disrupted the dominance of Western AI companies. With an investment of only 6.5 million USD, this technology caused the global AI market valuation to drop from approximately 1 billion USD to 969 million USD, demonstrating how rapidly and competitively the global technology ecosystem is evolving.
He also underscored that conflicts such as Iran-Israel and the Russia-Ukraine war have shown a surge in AI use in defense operations, intelligence analysis, and autonomous weaponry. Factors such as AI’s dual-use nature, its connection to the microchip industry, the ability of states possessing superior AI to shape international standards, and the risks of technological dependency have become key reasons why AI is now a highly determinative geopolitical issue.
Emphasis on Cyber Threats: Threat Characteristics and Dual-Use Nuances
Raden Wijaya emphasized that cyber threats in the digital era possess increasingly complex characteristics, are borderless, and have a dual-use nature. Technology initially developed for civilian purposes can now be repurposed for offensive operations by both state and non-state actors.
First, cyber threats are dual-use in nature. Digital infrastructure, software, AI algorithms, and cloud computing technology designed to enhance civilian sector efficiency can easily be exploited for network penetration, sabotage, or intelligence operations. States utilize these capabilities in strategic competition, while non-state actors such as cybercriminals, hacktivist groups, and armed organizations can leverage them for data manipulation, hacking, or attacks on public services.
Second, the character of cyber threats is asymmetric. States with high capabilities can launch precision attacks on other countries’ critical infrastructure. However, at the same time, small groups with limited resources can even cause significant damage through malware, botnets, or zero-day vulnerability exploitation. This makes cyberspace an open operational field for both large and small actors.
Third, cyber threats are characterized by ambiguity and attribution difficulties. Attacks are often conducted through proxies—whether criminal groups, technology consultants, or independent actors—making it difficult to definitively identify the attacking state. AI technology exacerbates this complexity by accelerating attack automation, producing manipulative content at scale, and helping to discover system vulnerabilities with high precision.
Fourth, cyber threats are very often linked to information operations. Generative AI can produce disinformation and digital propaganda used by both states and non-state actors to influence public opinion, disrupt domestic stability, or delegitimize public institutions.
Through these points, he emphasized that cyber threats are not merely technical issues but strategic threats that challenge digital sovereignty, national security, and political stability. Indonesia must strengthen national cyber resilience, build deterrence mechanisms, and develop a digital talent ecosystem to ensure control over technology that is increasingly integrated into daily life.
Indonesia and Digital Sovereignty in the Era of AI Competition
Raden Wijaya affirmed that Indonesia needs to develop a digital strategy focused not only on innovation but also on security. Investment in digital talent development, AI research, microprocessor infrastructure, and protection of critical infrastructure forms the foundation for Indonesia’s digital sovereignty amid global competition.
In closing his keynote address at IPGSC, he emphasized that the future will not only be determined by who possesses the most advanced technology, but by who is capable of securing, managing, and defending that technology as part of national interests.
Sep 23, 2025 | IPGSC
In his keynote address at the International Postgraduate Student Conference (IPGSC), an international conference for postgraduate students in International Relations held at Universitas Indonesia on October 23-24, 2025, Dr. Sulistyo, Deputy for Cyber Security and Government and Human Development Codes at the National Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN), emphasized that cyberspace represents a unique strategic domain characterized by its borderless nature—transcending geographical boundaries, lacking singular jurisdiction, and operating without a single governing authority. This condition fundamentally distinguishes cyberspace from physical domains such as land, sea, and air.
According to Sulistyo, this borderless character makes cyberspace not merely a digital infrastructure, but an arena with significant consequences for international stability and security.“Cyberspace penetrates national borders and blurs traditional concepts of sovereignty. Threats can emerge from anywhere, be perpetrated by anyone, and impact anyone,” he stated.
Borderless Cyberspace and Challenges to State Sovereignty
Within the framework of international security, the transboundary nature of cyberspace presents serious challenges. Cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, misinformation, and data manipulation can cross national borders within seconds. This complicates attribution, law enforcement, and collective responses. The absence of geographical boundaries creates new challenges for states: how to defend sovereignty in a domain that lacks physical territory? How to enforce rules in a domain where the primary actors are not always states? This borderless character also creates opportunities for non-state actors—ranging from criminal hackers to state-sponsored groups—to execute cross-border operations without physically breaching territorial boundaries.
Sulistyo also emphasized that borderless cyberspace has transformed how states perceive security threats. Cyber conflicts can occur without declarations of war, military mobilization, or violations of conventional territorial boundaries—yet remain capable of crippling economies, influencing domestic politics, and disrupting regional stability. In the context of great power rivalry, cyberspace has become a new arena for strategic competition. Control over digital technology, AI, quantum computing, and next-generation telecommunications has now become an instrument of state power, deepening the geopolitical dimension of the cyber domain.
Indonesia’s Response: Diplomacy, Multilateral Cooperation, and Strengthening Cyber Resilience
Facing the challenges of borderless cyberspace, Indonesia is strengthening its cyber diplomacy based on the principles of its independent and active foreign policy. Indonesia strives to ensure that global cyberspace governance remains inclusive and is not co-opted by geopolitical competition that disadvantages developing countries. Through forums such as ASEAN, the UN, and various other international cooperation regimes, Indonesia promotes: the establishment of norms for state behavior in cyberspace, confidence-building measures, enhanced cooperation in handling cross-border incidents, and strengthening regional capacity to address cyber threats.
Sulistyo emphasized that in a boundaryless domain like cyberspace, national resilience heavily depends on a state’s ability to build adaptive, responsive, and sustainable systems. He identified three strategic agendas. First, strengthening national cyber security capacity, including modernizing cyber defense architecture. Second, intensive international collaboration, as no country can secure cyberspace independently. And third, developing competent cyber human resources capable of operating in the global digital ecosystem.
“Cyber security is international security. In a space that knows no borders, the security of one country is deeply connected to the security of others,” he concluded.
Jul 29, 2025 | event
Depok, 22 Juli 2025 – Bagaimana cara meningkatkan kerjasama akademik Indonesia dengan India? Pertanyaan ini menjadi salah satu fokus diskusi yang digelar oleh Departemen Hubungan Internasional, Fakultas Ilmu Sosial dan Politik Universitas Indonesia Universitas Indonesia (FISIP UI), menghadirkan Konsul Jenderal Republik Indonesia Mumbai, Eddy Wardoyo. Diskusi diselanggarakan di Laboratorium Pembangunan Terintegrasi FISIP UI pada 22 July 2025, pukul 11.00 hingga 12.00.
Diskusi antara staf pengajar Departemen Hubungan Internasional dan Konsul Jenderal RI Mumbai berusaha mengeksplor isu-isu strategis untuk meningkatkan kerjasama antarakedua negara dalam bidang akademik. Saat ini Universitas Indonesia sudah memiliki kerjasama formal dengan beberapa universitas di India. Namun, perlu ditingkatkan lagi kerjasama dalam mengembangkan studi regional Asia Selatan mengingat peran negara-negara di Asia Selatan, yang semakin penting di kancah global.
Selama ini terdapat kesempatan beasiswa dari pihak India, namun peminat dari Indonesia masih relatif sedikit. Masih minimnya promosi dari pihak India pun menjadi salah satu faktor yang membuat kurangnya peminat. India pun perlu meningkatkan kembali soft power dengan target generasi-generasi muda di Indonesia sehingga akan lebih banyak generasi muda yang tertarik untuk menempuh studi di India.
Kerjasama lain yang perlu dikembangkan adalah dalam meningkatkan kedekatan antara komunitas akademik kedua negara. Kerjasama tersebut dapat dilakukan dengan mengirimkan para staf pengajar di India ataupun di Indonesia untuk menghadiri short course terkait kebijakan luar negeri dari masing-masing negara. Selain itu, potensi lainnya adalah dengan mengembangkan program kuliah tamu atau kuliah umum. Contohnya, para pengajar dari India dapat memberikan kuliah tamu dengan topik politik India kepada mahasiswa di Indonesia, ataupun sebaliknya.
Kegiatan ini menjadi momentum penting dalam mengembangkan kerjasama antara Indonesia dan India terutama dalam bidang akademik. Terdapat banyak potensi yang dapat dikembangkan oleh kedua negara. Regenerasi dalam studi Asia Selatan di Indonesia pun menjadi salah satu agenda penting agar dapat memberikan analisis dinamika politik luar negeri dan ekonomi global yang lebih komprehensif.
Mei 28, 2025 | event
Depok, 27 May 2025 — Can economic influence outweigh historical tension and political mistrust? This was the central question posed at the latest Monthly IR Discussion, held by the Department of International Relations, FISIP Universitas Indonesia, featuring an insightful presentation by Dr. Chun-Yi Lee, Associate Professor at the School of Politics and International Relations and Director of the Taiwan Research Hub, University of Nottingham.
Dr. Lee opened her presentation by introducing the University of Nottingham as one of the United Kingdom’s leading research institutions, known for its global academic outlook and interdisciplinary expertise—particularly in East Asian studies. The Taiwan Research Hub, which she leads, focuses on analyzing Taiwan’s strategic role in regional and international affairs, with a strong emphasis on cross-Strait relations.
The discussion, titled “Can Money Buy People’s Hearts and Minds? Review of Cross-Strait Economic and Security Issues”, delved into the intricate and evolving relationship between Taiwan and China. Dr. Lee examined how economic incentives and investment flows between the two sides have long been used as tools for influence—sometimes even as substitutes for political dialogue.
She outlined several key reasons why Taiwanese businesses have historically invested in China, including access to cheap labor (though no longer as cheap), abundant natural resources, and favorable government policies. Most importantly, she emphasized that such investments were and still are driven by market principles, not necessarily by shared political visions.
The audience engaged in a lively discussion that questioned whether economic ties can genuinely bridge deep-rooted political divides. Participants were particularly interested in how China’s economic strategies are perceived by the Taiwanese public and whether such tactics can shift sentiments in the context of increasing security tensions.
Held at the HI UI Meeting Room, 2nd Floor of Gedung Nusantara 2, Universitas Indonesia, Depok, this session marked another step in IR UI’s commitment to fostering critical dialogue on global issues bringing together local and international perspectives on one of Asia’s most pressing geopolitical challenges.
Mei 23, 2025 | event
Depok, 22 Mei 2025 — Bagaimana posisi Indonesia dalam kancah ekonomi politik global di tengah ketidakpastian dunia? Pertanyaan ini menjadi fokus diskusi dalam Guest Lecture yang digelar oleh Program Sarjana Departemen Hubungan Internasional, Fakultas Ilmu Sosial dan Ilmu Politik Universitas Indonesia (FISIP UI), menghadirkan tokoh nasional Dr. (H.C.) Drs. H. M. Jusuf Kalla sebagai pembicara utama.
Dalam kuliah umum bertema “Ekonomi Politik Indonesia di Tengah Kondisi Global Terkini”, Jusuf Kalla—yang dua kali menjabat sebagai Wakil Presiden Republik Indonesia (2004–2009 dan 2014–2019)—mengupas tuntas tantangan yang dihadapi Indonesia dalam menghadapi krisis global yang kompleks: konflik geopolitik, proteksionisme ekonomi, hingga kemunduran multilateralisme.
“Negara maju adalah kunci untuk dihormati secara internasional. Kita butuh sikap yang tegas, bukan sekadar bebas aktif,” tegas Jusuf Kalla di hadapan peserta yang memadati Auditorium Juwono Sudarsono, FISIP UI.
Kegiatan yang berlangsung dari pukul 10.00 hingga 12.00 WIB ini dimoderatori oleh Emir Chairullah, Ph.D. yang juga sebagai dosen tetap di Departemen Hubungan Internasional FISIP UI berlangsung dinamis dengan sesi tanya jawab yang mengangkat isu mulai dari investasi asing, politik kesehatan global, hingga prospek diplomasi Indonesia dalam menghadapi tekanan internasional.
Dalam pemaparannya, Jusuf Kalla juga menyoroti peran penting pemerintahan yang kuat, akuntabel, dan demokratis sebagai fondasi pembangunan berkelanjutan. Jusuf Kalla menekankan pentingnya keberanian dalam pengambilan kebijakan yang berpihak pada rakyat serta membangun kepercayaan internasional melalui sistem hukum yang konsisten.
Menutup diskusi, Jusuf Kalla mengajak generasi muda untuk menjadi agen perubahan melalui aktivisme, pendidikan, dan penguasaan teknologi. “Optimisme masa depan bangsa ada di tangan pemuda,” pungkasnya.
Kegiatan ini menjadi momentum refleksi strategis bagi mahasiswa untuk memahami keterkaitan erat antara politik luar negeri dan dinamika ekonomi global—sebuah kompetensi esensial bagi calon diplomat dan analis kebijakan masa depan.
Mei 21, 2025 | event
As part of its Undergraduate Program, the Department of International Relations, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences Universitas Indonesia (DHI UI), held a guest lecture titled “ASEAN Economic Community Post-2025 and the Role of ASEAN-Australia Partnership” on May 20, 2025. The event featured H.E. Tiffany McDonald, Ambassador of the Australian Mission to ASEAN, and was held at the Auditorium Anak Nusantara, Gedung Nusantara II, in UI’s Depok campus. Attended by undergraduate students and faculty members, the lecture offered valuable insights into the evolving relationship between ASEAN and Australia in the context of regional economic cooperation.
In her address, H.E. Ambassador McDonald reaffirmed Australia’s deep and historic ties with ASEAN, highlighting that Australia was the first country to become ASEAN’s Dialogue Partner. This longstanding relationship, she emphasized, reflects Australia’s strong and consistent support for ASEAN’s regional role. She also explained that Australia is currently ASEAN’s second-largest development partner, with extensive contributions through free trade agreements and collaborative initiatives such as the Aus4ASEAN program—an embodiment of Australia’s ongoing commitment to ASEAN’s growth and integration.
Addressing critiques of ASEAN’s relevance, H.E. Ambassador McDonald delivered a firm and optimistic message: “ASEAN is not only doing well—it is thriving.” She praised the newly launched ASEAN Vision 2045 as a bold move toward deeper regional integration and long-term economic development. According to her, this vision demonstrates ASEAN’s seriousness and strategic direction in navigating future challenges.
Looking ahead, H.E. Ambassador assured participants that Australia remains committed to supporting ASEAN through continued cooperation and regional engagement. She noted that Australia will play an active role in helping ASEAN achieve its long-term goals by strengthening economic ties, promoting inclusive growth, and fostering innovation and regional resilience.
This guest lecture is part of the Department of International Relations’ broader effort to connect students with real-world diplomatic experiences, regional policy issues, and global perspectives—helping prepare the next generation of international affairs professionals.
