BRIN, Murdoch University Forge Research Partnership on Democracy in Indo-Pacific

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and Murdoch University’s Indo-Pacific Research Centre (IPRC) have formalized a research partnership to explore the challenges of democratic representation and its impact on governance, security, international relations, and regional cooperation.

The collaboration is seen as timely amid shifting global politics and mounting democratic pressures across the Indo-Pacific. Head of BRIN’s Political Research Center (PRP), Athiqah Nur Alami, emphasized the strategic importance of the initiative.

“This cooperation carries five main agendas including joint research on political participation, institutional accountability, and public trust in shaping state capacity, as well as security governance in diverse political systems,” Athiqah said at the signing ceremony held at BRIN’s Sarwono Prawirohardjo Science and Technology Area in Jakarta on June 9, 2026, as quoted on BRIN's official website.

She added that the program also includes regular webinars, joint reports, collaborative workshops, and academic publications in edited volumes or special journal issues.

Athiqah noted that potential themes range from Indonesian democracy and civil-military relations to identity politics, regional cooperation, and comparative studies with Australia. “The scope remains open to development, including through multidisciplinary approaches and expanded case studies in Southeast Asia,” she explained.

Director of IPRC, Jacqueline Lo, welcomed the partnership, stressing the need for broader perspectives. “It is important to ensure that this cooperation does not only focus on one national context, but also opens space for regional, comparative, and multidisciplinary approaches,” she said.

Lo highlighted IPRC’s diverse expertise across political science, history, sociology, and human geography, with research interests spanning Indonesia, Thailand, South Asia, India, Bangladesh, Japan, and the wider Indo-Pacific. “The strength of this collaboration lies in bringing together researchers from different disciplines to produce innovative work,” she added.

Acting Head of BRIN’s Social Sciences and Humanities Research Organization, Muhammad Najib Azca, underscored the potential for synergy with other BRIN centers.

“This cooperation could strengthen Indonesia-Australia academic networks while producing relevant scientific contributions to understanding democracy and governance in the Indo-Pacific,” he remarked, pointing to comparative studies on autocratic legalism, hybrid democracy, and experiences in countries such as the Philippines and Thailand.

Beyond academic outcomes, the agreement reflects a shared commitment to advancing science diplomacy. In an era of complex global challenges, BRIN and Murdoch University see international collaboration as a vital instrument for generating knowledge that is both comprehensive and policy relevant. ***