PROCEEDING INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ON INDONESIAN FOREIGN POLICY CONFERENCE

“Rebuilding Resilience, Restoring Confidence : International Order and the Covid-19 Pandemic”

Despite the coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19) which has been going on for almost a year, we believe that scientific developments should never be hindered, especially in the studies of International Relations. With the vision to continuously develop the studies of International Relations in Indonesia, the International Relations Study Program, East Java “Veteran” National Development University, will conduct an online-based national seminar (webinar): “5th IROFONIC (International Relations on Indonesia Foreign Policy Conference) 2021, with spesific theme “Rebuilding Resilience, Restoring Confidence: International Order and the Covid-19 Pandemic”.

In accordance with the following theme, “5th IROFONIC 2020:” Rebuilding Resilience, Restoring Confidence: International Order and the Covid-19 Pandemic”, this online conference will focus on how the global civil society contributes to global resilience in managing COVID-19 both at global and local levels. The field of International Relations often solely focuses on relations between countries and governments, but somehow overlooks the participation of civil society organizations, non-state actors, and regional organizations. Meanwhile, COVID-19 pandemic crisis management shows cooperation between actors across sectors at the global level is necessary, not only in the field of public health, but also in the socio-political sector such as the economy, democratization, public policy to conflict management.

The rationals made by policy makers, both Indonesian and foreign governments, at the international level are the main focus of foreign policy studies. However, global participation as core values and the social obligation as member of a global entity, is also important. Especially during pandemic COVID-19, when it positioned as a global issue that has a significant impact the grassroots level. Hopefully, discussions on International Relations whom often critisized as state -centrist will emphasize more on the role of local actors, especially in building resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.