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ISSN : 2092-738X
This paper examines how state internationalization policies are adopted and adapted by universities and its unit levels in three non-English speaking countries in Asia, namely Taiwan, Japan, and Indonesia. It is a cross-country comparison with regards to regional proximity, non-English-speaking situations, and different demographic situation. Applying the qualitative method, the study found that the rationales for internationalization of higher education institutions differ significantly among the three. Each is strongly influenced, at the national level, demographic variables, stages of economic and higher education development, and geopolitical position. As a result, there are variations of policy and policy implementation across the countries at the national, university, and unit levels. Taiwan and Japan tend to marketize their universities by inbounding the best talents from overseas. While Taiwan has focused more on inbounding students from New Southbound Policy countries and beyond, Japan shows recent growing interest in outbounding its own local students for the purpose of nurturing them to be more globally fit. Indonesia on the other hand, demonstrates its internationalization by focusing on outbounding its students and scholars to pursue and experience HE abroad. Accordingly, universities and units tend to follow their respective country's national policy by gaining grants from the governments, which are important resources for their internationalization programs. The activities are shaped not only by government guidance but also by the role and position of each university in its respective country, as well as own directions and goals, which are set based on their history and mission.
This research examines the current state of oral traditions and the transmission of folk performing arts in East Java, Indonesia, amidst modern societal changes. While oral traditions remain vital for cultural preservation, their conventional modes of transmission are increasingly misaligned with today's fast-paced, digital-oriented environment. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated this issue, accelerating the shift toward digital entertainment and deepening the marginalization of traditional arts. Despite its urgency, this topic remains underexplored in academic literature. Using an ethnographic approach and drawing on cultural transmission and resilience theory, this study analyzes how folk performing arts endure, adapt, or decline in response to these challenges. It highlights the central role of transmission practices in sustaining cultural continuity. It also explores the involvement of key stakeholders, including local governments, educational institutions, and NGOs, in either supporting or neglecting these efforts. The findings reveal a persistent tension between preserving authenticity and embracing innovation. Ultimately, the study offers strategic insights into how East Java's rich artistic heritage can be transmitted more sustainably to future generations.
Indonesia launched its first gastrodiplomacy initiative, Indonesia Spice Up the World (ISUTW) in 2021, aiming to establish 4,000 Indonesian restaurants overseas and increase spice trade revenue to $2 billion by 2024. However, as the initial phase approaches its conclusion in 2024, the tangible impact of ISUTW in certain countries, especially in Europe, remains less apparent and somewhat puzzling. This study aims to examine the current impact of ISUTW in Europe, with a particular focus on the Netherlands and France. A qualitative research approach was employed, drawing on a combination of interviews, literature review, discussions with state and non-state actors in Indonesia, and fieldwork conducted in the Netherlands and France. This study suggests prioritizing specific European countries, namely the Netherlands and France, for the second cycle of ISUTW due to their historical ties with Indonesia, including colonial pasts, the romanticism of Indonesian exiles, the presence of Indonesian restaurants, and the societal familiarity with Indonesian cuisine. These crucial features are expected to facilitate the promotion of Indonesian culinary heritage through ISUTW. The study suggests that a more targeted and well-calibrated strategy is required to improve the effectiveness of ISUTW initiatives in Europe, with pilot implementations proposed in the Netherlands and France.
This paper explores the Peace-Wishing Festival of the Ruc people in Quang Binh Province, Vietnam, from the perspective of ethnic community cohesion. The Ruc people's Peace-Wishing Festival is not only a spiritual ritual but also a significant social event aimed at preserving and promoting the cultural identity of this ethnic group. Through the festival, the lifestyle, mindset, and history of the Ruc people, both past and present are reflected. Additionally, this festival symbolizes community cohesion and demonstrates the relationship between humans, nature, and deities. The study employs ethnographic methods, including in-depth interviews and participant observation, applying social functionalism and structuralism to analyze the festival’s role and significance in Ruc communal life. The research findings indicate that the Ruc people's Peace-Wishing Festival has been revitalized within the context of policies promoting the preservation of ethnic minority cultural heritage, with active participation from the community and local authorities. The festival activities not only contribute to strengthening community solidarity but also play a crucial role in maintaining and promoting the cultural values of the Ruc people. This study enriches the understanding of Ruc cultural traditions and offers insights into strategies for safeguarding ethnic heritage in contemporary Vietnam.
Transboundary haze pollution remains a recurrent environmental and political challenge in Southeast Asia. This article analyzes how the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has institutionalized cooperation to address this issue, highlighting its shift from fragmented to more structured but flexible governance. Drawing on an integrated framework that combines transaction cost economics, regime theory, and commons governance, the study traces ASEAN’s progression from low to medium institutionalization across four key milestones: the 1995 ASEAN Cooperation Plan, the 1997 Regional Haze Action Plan, the 2002 ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, and its subsequent implementation. Rather than interpreting ASEAN’s trajectory as institutional stagnation, it argues that ASEAN’s emphasis on consensus, informality, and non-interference reflects a strategic adaptation to regional interdependence, sovereignty sensitivities, and political diversity. The analysis demonstrates how medium institutionalization has enabled cooperation in a region where centralized enforcement is not feasible. By institutionalizing haze governance through a loosely coupled but resilient framework, ASEAN’s approach offers lessons for regions confronting transboundary environmental challenges and collective action dilemmas under sovereignty constraints.
Nam quốc sơn hà (Mountains and Rivers of the Southern Country), generally attributed to the 10th century, is one of the most celebrated works in Vietnamese literature and is widely regarded as a symbol of national spirit and an early declaration of independence. This study examines the process of its canonization from the early 20th century to the present, tracing how it was elevated to the foremost literary symbol of national discourse. It analyzes the origins of this process, its key stages, and the social forces involved. The article argues that the transformation of Nam quốc sơn hà into a canonical text was not the result of intrinsic literary qualities alone but emerged through the coordinated participation of state institutions, scholars, the media, and— most decisively—the education system. By drawing on discourse analysis, canon formation theory, and reception studies, the research sheds light on how institutional and discursive practices embed literary works into collective memory and national identity.
Existing historiography of the Banten Sultanate has largely emphasised its economic and political rise and decline in the 16th-17th centuries. Still, it has paid little attention to local traditions such as Sasapton, which played a crucial role in legitimizing authority and shaping external relations. This study addresses that gap by examining Sasapton, a traditional equestrian tournament initiated under Sultan Abdul Mufakir Mahmud Abdul Kadir (1596-1651) and further developed by Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa (1651–1672) as more than courtly entertainment. Drawing on archival records, oral traditions, archaeological data, and expert interviews, the research analyzes how Sasapton functioned as a form of proto-cultural diplomacy that projected Banten’s cosmopolitan identity, consolidated political legitimacy, and facilitated diplomatic encounters with foreign traders and kingdoms across Southeast Asia's maritime networks. By conceptualizing Sasapton as an early practice of cultural diplomacy, this paper contributes to broader debates on the intersections of culture, power, and diplomacy in pre-modern Southeast Asia. It highlights the significance of local traditions in shaping regional and global interactions in the 16th-17th centuries.
This study examines water governance and environmental justice in the Bang Ban floodplain area of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, Thailand. The Bang Ban floodplain, a critical natural flood retention area, plays a significant role in mitigating flood risks and supporting local agriculture, particularly rice cultivation. However, state-managed water policies have led to continuous flooding, environmental degradation, and economic challenges for local residents and farmers. The research focuses on the distributive and procedural justice aspects of water governance, highlighting the inequitable distribution of environmental impacts and the lack of genuine local participation in decision-making processes. The findings reveal that centralized water governance policies have resulted in significant environmental injustice. Residents and farmers in Bang Ban face recurrent floods and water shortages, disrupting their agricultural cycles and livelihoods. The study also pinpoints a deficiency in procedural justice, given the exclusion of local communities from significant involvement in water management decisions. The adverse effects include economic losses, reduced biodiversity, and increased vulnerability to environmental hazards. The research underscores the need for more inclusive and equitable water governance strategies that address both environmental justice and sustainable development.
In response to climatic shocks and socio-economic changes, livelihood transitions have been undertaken across different agro-ecological regions of Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. This article compares the transitional process in two areas with distinct external and intrinsic variables to examine how ecological and social forces affect farmers’ livelihood strategies. Perceptions and attitudes of 307 households in Hau Giang were investigated against five aspects of vulnerability using factor analysis. Together with comparative analysis, regression models were used to determine factors driving livelihood transitions. The study found that drivers of transitions varied depending on specific contexts in which land use, financial capital, and labor advantages play the leading role. Urbanization impacts had a significant effect, but other aspects of market risks, institutional regulations, and cooperative networks were relatively important. Transitional policies that align with household interests, such as financial subsidies, cooperative incentives, and supportive entrepreneurs, will ensure that local farmers can embark upon sustainable livelihood pathways.
Women entrepreneurs globally, including Indigenous women in Sabah, faced significant challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing them to adapt and employ various strategies to restore their businesses. While much research has explored the factors motivating women to start and run businesses, there is limited analysis on what influences the resilience of Sabahan Indigenous women entrepreneurs. This study aims to examine the various factors that impact the resilience of small-scale Indigenous women entrepreneurs in Sabah, particularly as they navigate challenges such as limited access to networks, financial resources, training, and credit. Ultimately, this study highlights the many ways in which the marginal position of rural Indigenous women from Sabah within Malaysian society continues to hinder their recovery from times of crisis, forcing them to rely on communal growth for their survival and that of their community.
