The Turmoil Change of International Politics

Especially after the Cold War, the tendency to create a new world order has been materialized. Some scholars refer this condition with the structure of international realm which has become the Western unipolarism. Some other scholars perceive this tendency as the triumph of regime and international institutions. Many others believe that world order could only be constructed if there were value and ideas among states to create it. Again, world is painted by hurly-burly colors which sometimes overlapping between one to another. So, what is international order? Is there any international order in this lawlessness system?

We can say that the issue of new world order is still debatable. For some, this phrase refers to the United States’ dominant role as the most powerful state in the international arena. For others, the driving force is more spontaneous, linked to the much broader process of globalization, featuring transnational flows of capital, corporations, information, people, and lifestyles in an increasingly “borderless” world. For the rest of others, it is the emergence of meaningful forms of governance beyond the nation-state, as evident in the expanding role of international organizations and in the diffusion of liberally conceived universal standards of democracy and human rights. On the other hand, some scholars and actors see very little that is actually new, treating the post-Cold War order is simply the most recent iteration of traditional realpolitik, or merely the latest attempt of the West to impose its values, economic interests, and political systems upon others without consideration of the diversity of cultures worldwide or the economic vulnerability of poorer regions. For me, the reason of the US domination and Western enforcement on its values and interests are the most logical phenomenon because we have not seen yet the success of international organizations to create stable condition. Yet, we may not see this turmoil change in international politics as one piece per piece. It is just like a puzzle game. We have to put one thing on the right place so we could find a comprehensive picture of this world politics.

The complete version can be read at http://www.gsia.mcu.edu.tw/open_news.jsp?id=35

The Journal

When I was in college, my motivation to write an academic article was quite strong. Perhaps by that time I was still familiar with some issues related to my major. And luckily, I was surrounded by many highly-dedicated friends who were eager to produce some writings that could be published in journals. One of my best mentors in the Department of International Relations University of Indonesia invited me to join her to write an article for a journal. The article is about corporations in the context of international relations. Commonly, international relations talk about nation-states and deem non-state issues as marginal issues. That's why we wanted to review another aspect of international relations. So we did it. Our article was published in Jurnal Global dan Strategis of Airlangga University. Below is the abstract:

Multinational Corporations (MNCs) are key agents transforming the international and political economy landscape. They are highly visible organization with great power and mobility, they inspire both awe and fear. This article tries to explain the conceptual framework of multinational corporations by analyzing their relationship with state, local enterprises, and non-governmental economic constellations, then one is likely to see MNCs as sources of pursuit of balanced development is preferable, then MNCs may represent forces exacerbating inequality and exploitation.

The complete version can be downloaded at http://journal.unair.ac.id/detail_jurnal.php?id=2190&med=23&bid=8. Don't forget of the copyrights! ;)

I hope from this starting point, there will be more entries in other "qualified" journals. Amin. :)

A Glimpse about IR

Why do we study international relations? What are the advantages to study international relations for our daily life? For me, international relations discipline provides us theoretical framework of thinking. We apply framework of thinking to analyze factual condition in international affairs. Theoretical framework constructs our standpoint so that we are able to understand the dynamic of international relations critically. At this point, John Lewis Gaddis[6] stated that we have to consider the subsequent things in evaluating international phenomena: First, we have to make clear the distinction between independent and dependent variables. Second, we should take into account for changes. Third, we draw on commensurate standards of measurement. Fourth, we should have objectivity.

One aim of studying a wide variety of international relations theories is to make international politics more intelligible and better understood. In other words, to make better sense of the institutions, events, and processes which exist in the contemporary world. According to Scott Burchill, the theories will involve testing hypotheses, proposing causal explanations, describing events, and explaining general trends and phenomena, with the aim of constructing a plausible image of the world.[7]

The enterprise of theoretical investigation is at its minimum one directed toward criticism: towards identifying, formulating, refining, and questioning the general assumptions on which the everyday discussion of international politics proceeds. At its maximum, the enterprise is concerned with theoretical construction: with establishing that certain assumptions are true while others are false, valid or invalid, and so proceeding to erect a firm structure of knowledge.[8]

Theories here provide intellectual order to the subject matter of international relations. They enable us to conceptualize and contextualize both past and contemporary events. They also provide us with a range of ways of interpreting complex realities and issues. Theories help us to orientate and discipline our minds in response to the bewildering phenomena around us. They help us to think critically, logically, and coherently. We should analyze what are the causal factors behind US invasion on Afghanistan and Iraq or think coherently the relation between mainland China and Taiwan. General theory in international relations, then, consists of dividing the human race into sections, noting the significant properties of each, examining the relationship between them, and describing the patterns formed by the relationships.

We need to examine our own background assumptions to reveal and explain our selections, priorities, and prejudices because all forms of social analysis raise important questions about the moral and cultural constitution of the observer. As a scholar, we are expected to build our own models to portray international phenomena coherently.

[6] John Lewis Gaddis, “ History, Theory, and Common Ground”, in Karen A. Mingst and Jack L. Snyder, Op. Cit., p. 13-14.

[7] Scott Burchill, et. al., International Relations: Theory and Practice. London: MacMillan Press, Ltd., 1996, p. 13.

[8] James Der Derian (ed.), International Theory: Critical Investigations. Basingstoke, 1995, p. 183-4.

The full version is at http://www.gsia.mcu.edu.tw/open_news.jsp?id=17

Otanjoubi

January 27th, 2012..

Meghan's 3rd birthday. Time does fly..


She has been growing into a (very) talkative, agile, and creative little girl. Umm..plus a bit naughtier.. :)

Talking about my daughter, she loves to do many things. But her favorite activities are talking and singing. :)
She starts singing at 2 years old. Not only singing, but also humming and modifying a song ^^. At 2 years 8 months, she could almost completely sing "Ita Mira" and "Burung Kutilang". Now, in her early third year, she can sing "hokey pokey" (plus dances), twinkle twinkle little star, and "alphabet song", surely with her own style of English pronounciation. And, if I teach her another song, like "suwe ora jamu" or "yaa thoyibah", she could easily repeat after me, with correct tones.

What about reading and counting ? Well, I don't want to force her to be able to read before 4 yrs old etc. I just try to introduce her with alphabets and syllables. So far, she can read series of syllables, such as "mi ta su ka sa ma na si" or "pa pa mau be ka ta a pa pa da semua"..and more..and more.. though she'll read it slowly. As for mathematics skill, she can count until 100 and recognize the numbers. Alhamdulillah. At least, when she goes back to Indonesia and ready to enter kindergarten, she already has a basic knowledge.

What about drawing? Not bad... her favorite drawing is a "little bus", because she considers this little bus as her best friend. See the pictures below. The first picture is about "Ayah (daddy) holds Meghan", and the second picture is "Meghan holds a little bus" :). Not bad, huh? lol.

1)
2)




However, a kid is still a kid who doesn't understand the risk of doing something and doesn't know when to stop. Delinquency should be normal but as humanbeings, the parents also have limitation of patience. Sometimes I feel too harsh to Meghan, especially when she made some troubles. Lately I understand that being too harsh doesn't bring any solution. It only teaches our kids the concept of stubbornness.

My little lady grows too fast. And as I believed, "amanah" is never easy to be accomplished. Extra patience, knowledges, and resources are needed to accompany our steps in nurturing our dearest one.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, OUR LITTLE SUNSHINE...
Wishing you more and more happiness in your life..