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The South Pacific region has become a top foreign policy priority for Jakarta. This essay explains Indonesia's utilisation of the cultural approach in its diplomatic engagement with the South Pacific. Cultural dissemination as a tool of international relations is scantly studied even though its use in diplomacy has successfully forged mutual understanding between people of discrete backgrounds. Indonesia uses a cultural approach to catch up diplomatically in its neighbouring, but previously overlooked, region and to address its 'poor image' problem that has persisted there for more than three decades. The cultural approach is intended to complement political and economic approaches. This study aims to bridge the gap in the literature vis-à-vis the role of culture in shaping foreign policy goals. Indonesia undertakes this 'soft diplomacy' based on its long-term orientation toward its national identity, politico-business and strategic interests. The Indonesian government is optimistic that cultural diplomacy will succeed in enhancing Indonesia's status in this zone.

Menguatnya sentimen identitas di dalam Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) bersamaan dengan kecenderungan melemahnya kapabilitas kemandirian untuk melakukan tata kelola domestik merupakan salah satu faktor yang menyebabkan berubahnya dinamika di Pasifik Selatan. Salah satunya ditandai dengan menguatnya kekhawatiran bahwa negara-negara di dalam kelompok ini semakin sulit melepaskan diri dari ketergantungan terhadap bantuan luar negeri. Menguatnya sentimen identitas secara empiris dapat diamati dari pergolakan di dalam organisasi tersebut, yang menunjukkan bahwa para anggotanya semakin tidak khawatir pada perbedaan pendapat di antara mereka. Sementara itu lemahnya kapabilitas mengelola secara mandiri persoalan domestik ditunjukkan dengan meningkatnya bantuan finansial dari negara donor. Padahal pada saat yang bersamaan krisis di negara donor dan relatif menurunnya urgensi Pasifik Selatan dalam geopolitik negara-negara donor dapat membawa organisasi regional ini dalam posisi limbo. Alternatif jalan keluar telah diambil, namun menimbulkan pertanyaan, mau dibawa ke manakah MSG?

Since independence in 1945, Indonesia has managed to carry out its foreign policy according to a unique doctrine described as "independent and active" (bebas dan aktif). To be independent means that Indonesia does not side with world powers, while being active means vigorously carrying out peaceful policies and actively participating in the peaceful settlement of international issues. The doctrine is not a neutral policy but does not align and bind the country with the superpowers or any military pact. Instead, being independent and active primarily serves the national interest while allowing the Indonesian government to collaborate with other nations. However, the doctrine's implementation has varied according to the different interpretations of successive presidents. This paper explains Indonesia's independent and active foreign policy during President Joko Widodo's presidency. It contends that while the doctrine has continued to underlie Indonesia's foreign policy, the formulation of President Joko Widodo's foreign policy is unique in its practical approach, prioritizing the national interest and the domestic advantages of foreign relations. In the president's worldview, foreign policy has been instrumental in promoting the nation's development.

As Indonesia's economy gradually improves, the government has been actively promoting its horizontal cooperation among developing countries by playing a prominent role as a non-DAC (Development Assistance Committee) provider. Though the country has been receiving aid over the past two decades, it has also been providing to other developing countries in the Pacific region. However, Indonesia's relations with these countries face contention due to it being perceived as "big and aggressive." This is evident in its decision to oppose the independence of Papua. After decades of seeking good relations, Jakarta has opened its Eastern door by creating a closer link with the Pacific countries through the provision of aid. As it moved from ignorance to awareness, Indonesia's approach was aimed at solving domestic problems related to its national integration and territorial integrity in the east, particularly the issue of Papuan independence. The country made use of aid as its primary diplomatic tool in its "Look East" policy. This paper investigates the extent to which this policy has been instrumental in rebuilding, restoring, and improving Indonesia's image among Pacific countries. It argues that the ethnic dimension is one of the critical determinants in diplomatic relations, and ignorance could lead to its failure. Furthermore, it shows that the use of aid has resulted in a constructive impact that has been evident in a decrease in support for Papua separatism in the South Pacific region.

Abstract
In the last decade, Surabaya city has reinvented itself through a rapid greening development concept. The emergence of cities in diplomacy represents the multi-centric world rather than state-centric world in post-Westphalian diplomacy. By using Surabaya as a case study and examining how it overcomes environmental challenges, we will show how a city can play a crucial role in the realization of responsible development. We will focus on the mayor's efforts to decentralize Surabaya by making the city's diplomacy down-to-earth and people-oriented, especially in environmental-related issues. This overturns the idea that diplomacy is the reserve of diplomats and political elites, with little connection to the welfare of the people, especially those at the grassroots level. This article suggests that Surabaya, as a secondary city, has been successful in creating green living spaces and achieving sdg targets through active environmental diplomacy via multilateral engagement, bilateral partnership, and local community involvement.

Karya sastra klasik "the Art of War" yang ditulis oleh Sun Tzu dipandang relevan ketika diterapkan di era kontemporer ini. Tidak terbatas pada lingkup militer saja, the Art of War juga dapat diterapkan di berbagai aspek kehidupan salah satunya di aspek bisnis. Tulisan ini bertujuan untuk meneliti strategi militer yang tertulis dalam the Art of War yang teridentifikasi dalam strategi bisnis Netflix, sebagai suatu perusahaan yang berhasil menghadirkan terobosan di tengah industri hiburan digital. Untuk mencapai tujuan tersebut, penulis menggunakan metode kualitatif yang menganalisis data primer dan sekunder, serta mengumpulkan data-data dari kajian terdahulu, buku, jurnal, dan artikel ilmiah. Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa Netflix mengadopsi beberapa strategi militer Sun Tzu dalam upayanya menduduki industri hiburan. Dengan beberapa penafsiran terminologi strategi militer yang kemudian disesuaikan dengan terminologi bisnis, penulis kemudian menelaah tahap-tahap perkembangan bisnis Netflix yang disertai dengan analisis strategi militer "the Art of War" sebagai upaya perusahaan melakukan penetrasi pasar dan menghadapi kompetitor, mendesain inovasi dan mengembangkan usaha, serta membentuk aliansi. Selain itu, penulis menemukan kesamaan pemikiran antara konsep pasifisme Sun Tzu dengan konsep binsis Netflix sebagai purpose-driven business. Kata-kata kunci: The Art of War, Netflix, dan Strategi Bisnis. The classic literary work, "the Art of War" written by Sun Tzu, is considered to remain relevant applied in this contemporary era. Not limited to the military aspect, the Art of War also finds its place in various aspects of life, one of which is in business aspects. This paper aims to examine the military strategy written in the Art of War identified in the Netflix business strategy as a company that has succeeded in generating breakthroughs amid the digital entertainment industry. The authors employ qualitative methods to analyze both primary and secondary data collected from previous studies, books, journals, and scientific articles. The results of this study indicated that Netflix adopted several of Sun Tzu's military strategies in its efforts to occupy the entertainment industry. Some interpretations of military strategy terminologies have been adjusted into business terminologies to analyze the stages of Netflix's business development by using the Art of War military strategy as attempts by the company to penetrate the market and face competitors, designing innovation and business development, as well as forming alliances. Moreover, the authors found the similarity of ideas between the concept of pacifism by Sun Tzu with the business concept of Netflix as a purpose-driven business. Keywords: The Art of War, Netflix, and Business Strategy.

Since the end of the Cold War, thoughtlessness act in conducting 'humanitarian interventions' has posed analytical challenges for international relations academicians. Traditional security advocators have tried to distinguished implications of 'humanitarianism' based on their interest and how it helps state in regaining the outcome. This research identified motivation of state in conducting humanitarian intervention. There are growing studies, as expressed by the constructivist, that humanitarianism is states' political weapon that shifted the involvement patterns of policymakers and actors in humanitarian interventions. On the other hand, primary criticism from realism stressed economic and political ambition behind humanitarian interventions and makes it impossible to be moral, ethical, and cosmopolitan. The objective of this study is to examine the practices, motives, and challenges of humanitarian interventions. Data gathered from published books and journals selected through rigorous analysis. The research finds that the failure of humanitarian interventions indicates the following: First, humanitarian interventions requires expensive cost in people's life and other resources. Moreover, there is a moral obligation to save the victims. Second, actors are engaged to operate the mission and has limited right to demonstrate their self-interest to protect the victims. Third is the issue of sovereignty and the subjected state's willingness to integrate. To overcome the problem, government should promote global governance transformation and the cosmopolitanism nature between actors.

Besides being known for its natural tourist destinations and beautiful beaches, Lombok Island in Indonesia is also known for its abundant marine and fishery potential, which can be used as development vehicles for the island's people. However, its richness in marine resources does not contribute significantly to its people's living standards and economic development. This research aims to investigate the practice of the Blue Economy in a marine wealth region. While many disciplines touch upon the concept of a Blue Economy, little research has examined the ocean-poverty connection in Lombok Island. This article argues that the potential of Lombok's Blue Economy has not alleviated poverty since the local condition does not support a tendency against romanticizing the notion of Blue Economy as a global developmental platform. The substantial marine potential of the island cannot provide maximum benefit for the people's welfare due to multiple factors, including financial, human resources, infrastructure, and the government's goodwill. The significance of this research presents empirical evidence of a missing link in the ocean-poverty nexus. This research examines five drivers of the Blue Economy on the island: pearl, seaweed, fisheries, mangrove, and marine tourism. We maintain a paradox of plenty on the island since the potential from these drivers is immense to address the poverty in Lombok, yet the progress seems idle.