Journal of Islamic World and Politics

The Comparison of The United States Foreign Policy Against The Islamic World Under President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump Administration

Diana Mutiara Bahari — 2022-11-04

The United States of America (USA) is an international concern, especially regarding the national election agenda. The presidential election of the world's leading superpower will impact the world's geopolitical order, such as the emergence of global political turmoil that has resulted in tensions in relations between the US and countries in the world, especially countries in the Islamic World. The 2016 US presidential election has captured international attention because it was won by a controversial figure, Donald Trump. The victory of Donald Trump to replace President Barack Obama marked a change in the style of US foreign policy towards the Islamic World. Therefore, the question arises of how the US foreign policy compares to the Islamic World in the era of President Obama and President Trump. This study uses a Foreign Policy Decision Making Theory. This study concludes that US foreign policy during the Obama administration was friendly to the Islamic World. On the other hand, US foreign policy during the Trump administration was not friendly to the Islamic World, which caused tension in relations between the US and the Islamic World.

Keywords: US, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Islamic World, Foreign Policy

THE ROLE OF PARADIPLOMACY AND THE POTENTIAL PROTO-DIPLOMACY IN THE UNITARY STATE

Laode Muhamad Fathun — 2022-11-29

This article aims to explain the study of paradiplomacy in the unitary state. With the case study of Indonesia, the author explains the role of paradiplomacy and the potential of proto-diplomacy in a unitary state like Indonesia. This article uses a qualitative method with a case study method with research data sources, journal articles, books, reports and other relevant sources. The results found that the role of paradiplomacy in Indonesia is still conservative because it still follows the boundaries that have been set. Post-reform the role of paradiplomacy is very stretched, especially in big cities such as Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, which already have strategic partners abroad. This role opens up opportunities for cooperation in economic, social, cultural, educational and other fields that are needed by para-diplomacy. The role of paradiplomacy has been stated in various regulations as the basic foundation for moving in search of strategic partners abroad. Although it has a positive impact, it turns out that there is potential for proto-diplomacy in Indonesia. This is especially the case for areas that have a history of popular movement for regional independence. This movement has the potential to lead to disintegration. However, it can be muted if each party can reduce ego and commitment to build together.

Propaganda and Political Memes on Social Media in the 2019 Indonesian Presidential Election

Akhirul Aminulloh — 2022-12-29

Political memes colored the 2019 Indonesian presidential election campaign on social media. Political memes have become one of the propaganda strategies to influence public opinion to gain political support from the public before the presidential election. This study aims to analyze and understand political memes as a medium of political propaganda in the 2019 Indonesian presidential election. This study uses critical discourse analysis to uncover the meaning behind the text. The data collection technique uses documentation in the form of political memes of the two presidential candidates, both in images and political symbols scattered on social media in the January – March 2019 period. Furthermore, the data will be analyzed using Fairclough's critical discourse analysis model to find out the meaning of the text. This study indicates that social media plays an essential role in political communication in the 2019 presidential election campaign. Social media is a cheap and fast means of spreading political memes that reach potential voters widely and massively. Through political memes, Joko Widodo often talks about having links with the Indonesian Communist Party. Meanwhile, Prabowo Subianto is often spoken of by his political opponents as a supporter of the caliphate in Indonesia. These political memes are used as political propaganda to construct or deconstruct political presidential candidates' discourse and build or damage the reputation of presidential candidates to influence public opinion.

Trump’s Securitization of US against Aliens and Immigrants Case Study: Latin Migrants

Eiga Sitompul — 2022-11-04

This paper examines Trump’s securitization of Latin migrants and aliens in the United States (US) through law enforcement and legal political practice. Public citizens have divided opinion regarding immigrants, especially aliens, as they are undocumented and are deemed to destabilize internal public safety. Politicians in the US have also conduct political competitions in politicizing migrants through multitudes of official matters, and passing policies. One prominent example in politicizing migrant is Donald J. Trump, a popular unorthodox president of the US that views immigrants with hostility and skepticism. Trump antagonized the Latin migrants through the dangers they posed in the past combined with crime occurrences in his term, and justify protectionist policies by reducing border crosses through Mexico-US border and cutting down the number of Latin aliens and immigration in the country. Trump, through his famous Zero-tolerance policy, promoted attitudes that often encourage public citizens and law enforcers to view potential threats of immigrants, especially aliens. Trump’s campaign about Latin migrants changed the image of Latin migrants among Trump supporters as well as local law enforcers in viewing Latin migrants as a source of threat. This research finds that: Trump’s securitization of US against Latino migrants was lawfully and effectively projected through empowerment of federal level immigration and law enforcement agencies down to field officers.

Constructivism Explained Malaysia’s Ratification Withdrawal of International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) in 2018

Alen Tiara — 2022-11-04

Malaysia is one of two Muslim-majority countries in the world that have not ratified ICERD. ICERD is part of the Convention on Human Rights, which obliges each country to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination. After 61 years of Barisan Nasional (BN) in power, Malaysia won the concept of 'New Malaysia' under the new authority of Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the 14th election. PM Mahathir Mohamad followed up on 'New Malaysia' by conveying the discourse on ICERD ratification at the 73rd UN General Assembly. The discourse was canceled in November 2018 after massive resistance from the BN opposition and Muslim-Malay unity. The cancellation of ratification can be explained through constructivism regarding the interests of maintaining economic, social, and political security for Malay-Muslim, which is based on the identity of the Malayan leadership during state formation of Malaysia.

The Political Economy of the US-China Cybersecurity Relations and Trade War Under the Trump Administration

Miftahul Huda — 2022-11-29

This article examines the cybersecurity relations between China and the US under the Trump administration. It explores the changes in the US cybersecurity policy in 2019, where the US government took a protectionist approach to ban the operation of China’s software and hardware in the US, and how such a decision predisposes the trade war between the two countries, which President Trump previously started. Appling the political economy approach of the cybersecurity concept, this research argues that the protectionist cybersecurity policy by the Trump administration was driven by the US business interest followed by security concern to lead the global technological transformation, balance the international economy, and preserve the US citizen’s big data. Such policy, nevertheless, has intensified the trade war between the US and China, specifically in the technology and big data sectors. This study contributes to the broader literature on cybersecurity that has been much discussed in recent years.

Japan’s Strategy on Managing Territorial Disputes of Senkaku Islands

Essa Rahmadhani Dirha Kirana — 2022-12-27

The purpose of this study is to clarify and provide new information regarding the Japanese approach to handling territorial issues involving the Senkaku Islands. By applying the Negotiation and Mediation theory by Dean G. Pruitt and Peter J. Carnevale to evaluate and further explain the types of negotiations between Japan and China to resolve the territorial issues of the Senkaku Islands, it will explain the process of Japan's strategy for doing so. The study discovered that both countries went through several dynamics in their negotiating process using the Negotiation and Mediation theory. To identify the best way to develop a solution, Japan and China used two strategies: the first was the contesting strategy, which took place at the start of the negotiating process, and the second was the yielding or concession strategy. Finally, carry out the problem-solving plan whereby both parties agreed to host a Joint Development to put an end to the territorial disputes over the Senkaku Islands.

Turkey’s Reasons to Normalize Diplomatic Relations with Israel in 2021

Isyfa Zahrotul Mufidah — 2022-12-29

This article discusses the reasons for Turkey's normalization with Israel in 2021. Diplomatic relations between the two sides have been established for more than 70 years since the state of Israel was founded, although the dynamics of their relationship have experienced ups and downs. This study is qualitative research in which the analysis of this phenomenon is taken from news reference sources, articles, reports and documents, using the theory of Foreign Policy Analysis by Valerie M.Hudson. The results of this analysis show that three important aspects make Turkey carry out normalization with Israel, first from an economic perspective which is the main aspect of normalization, second from a political aspect and finally from a security or military perspective. Israel has become Turkey's strategic partner even though as an Islamic country that carries out normalization with the Jewish state, this is a strategy that Turkey wants to build, because this policy it is the foundation for achieving national interests.

Representation of Religious Conflict in Local Media

Encep Dul Wahab — 2022-12-29

The media always try their best to represent reality for their audiences, with the hope of retaining readers and increasing company revenues. However, in depicting the reality of religious conflict, the media often contradicts the norms, ethics, and code of ethics of journalism itself. The purpose of this study was to determine the representation of religious conflict in local media, namely the Ahmadiyah conflict in West Java, which was published in the Pikiran Rakyat in news coverage from 2010 to 2011. This study used Teun A. van Dijk's critical discourse analysis method. The results of the study show that Pikiran Rakyat represents the Ahmadiyah conflict in various ways, including dividing the object of its reporting into two camps, strong and weak, by branding Ahmadiyah as a deviant, banned, and disbanded organization. The strong side is an organization supported by the government, and the weak side is Ahmadiyah, which does not receive government protection and support. Pikiran Rakyat presents news sources in this religious conflict in an unfair and balanced manner, presenting more news sources from the majority than Ahmadiyah as a minority. Pikiran Rakyat also represents ways of resolving the Ahmadiyah conflict.