Report on The 10th International Conference on Business, International Relations, and Diplomacy (ICOBIRD)

Jakarta – On the 5-6th October 2021, Department of International Relations at Bina Nusantara University held its 10th International Conference on Business, International Relations and Diplomacy (ICOBIRD) conference with the main title of “Surviving the Pandemic and the Shift in Global Architecture”. This was the second ICOBIRD held online through Zoom and also livestreamed on YouTube.

Day 1

Conference Opening and Keynote Sessions

The conference was opened by duo MC Nindita Windriyani Putri and Atha Mulia at 8.30 AM Jakarta time, followed by the playing of national anthem Indonesia Raya, Hymne Binus University and welcoming remarks from Chairperson of ICOBIRD 2021, Ella Syafputri Prihatini, S.I.P., Master of Development Practice (Adv.), Ph.D., Rangga Aditya Ph.D., as the head of the Department of International Relations and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities Dr. Elisa Carolina Marion, S.S., M.Si., followed by the speech from the Vice Rector of Research and Technology of BINUS University, Prof. Dr. Tirta Nugraha Mursitama, S.Sos., M.M., Ph.D., thus officially open the ICOBIRD 2021.

Keynote Session 1

The first Keynote Session brought by Prof. David Levy, Professor of Management at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, the USA, with his discussion about “The Covid Pandemic: Implications for the Global Economy and Governance” and moderated by Prof. Dr. Tirta Nugraha Mursitama, S.Sos., M.M., Ph.D. Prof. Levy compares the normativity between the global pandemic response that requires a coordinated response to the twin health and economic threats. But in reality, the global world has witnessed phenomena such as retreat from multilateral governance, rise of economic nationalism, unprecedented measures, populism, denial of science, and economic impacting as trade, employment, working conditions, public finances, and inequality highly severed.

The global world is then faced with the question of choosing policies in the tension between extreme nationalism and authoritarianism or a more diverse, multi-polar governance, a ‘multiplex’ (Acharya, 2016 or ‘polycentric’ world (Ostrom, 2010); the tension between extreme protectionism or restructuring of supply chains, more regional, flexible, and resilient; tensions between states micro-managing business, economy, travel or more active industrial policy, welfare state expansion.

Keynote Session 2

The second Keynote Session, “Enabling Authoritarianism in the Indo-Pacific”, brought by Dr. Rebecca Strating, the Executive Director of La Trobe Asia and a Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations in the Department of Politics, Media and Philosophy at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia, and moderated by Moch. Faisal Karim, S.Sos., MA., Ph.D.

Dr. Bec emphasized the importance of promoting democracy in relations between Australia and the Indo-Pacific, as stated in Australia’s 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper. This promotion of democracy is built through various strategies, such as declaratory and operational policy, public diplomacy narratives, overseas direct assistance, “carrot and stick approaches” (the use of aid conditionalities and sanctions, diplomatic pressure), and regional democratic state-building/peace-building (e.g. what happened in Timor-Leste).

However, this promotion of democracy is disrupted by the revival of authoritarianism as indicated by various indicators, for example: the failure to criticize governments for actions that contribute to a decline in democracy and human rights, reducing funding for democracy promotion activities, and providing funding that directly enables democratic states to either remain autocratic or become autocratic.

Keynote Session 3

The keynote sessions of ICOBIRD 2021 was closed by the third Keynote Session brought by Prof. Brendan Sargeant, Professor of Practice in Defense and Strategic Studies and Head of the Strategic and Defense Studies Center at the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Studies at the Australian National Universit, with the topic “Strategic Shifts in the Post-Pandemic Era”. This session was moderated by Curie Maharani Savitri, S.Sos., MT, Ph.D.

Prof. Sargeant discussed the nature of change in the world prior to the advent of COVID, which primarily focused on the Indo Pacific, the impacts and changes that were already occurring, as well as some discussion on what the longer term strategic impacts of COVID will be, and what it might portend for the future as well as the policy challenges that COVID has created for the future.

IR Best Thesis Award 2021 Winners Announcement

The conference on the first day closed with the announcement of the winner of the International Relations’ Best Thesis Award. You can read the full article at this link: https://ir.binus.ac.id/2021/10/06/pengumuman-international-relations-best-thesis-award-2021/

You can watch the entire session on the first day of ICOBIRD 2021 on the International Relations Bina Nusantara University’s YouTube channel at the link: ICOBIRD 2021 Livestream

Day  2

Parallel Sessions

The second day of ICOBIRD 2021 was divided into five parallel sessions presenting 25 papers, with each session inviting a moderator and a discussant who moderated and discussed each of the five papers in one panel. Parallel sessions opened at 09.00 local time and finished before lunch.

Parallel Session 1: ASEAN, Asia, Comparative Politics

• Moderator: Apriawan, MA (Universitas Andalas)
• Discussant: Moch Faisal Karim, Ph.D. (Binus University)

• Presenter:

1. Freeport Indonesia Implementation on Environmental Security and Corporates Social Responsibility for Sustainable Development – Tia Mariatul Kibtiah and Putri Saviera Quaralia (International Relations, Bina Nusantara University).
2. Colorism “Ideology”: The Legacy Of Colonial Mentality In The Jakarta’s Gen-Z Mixed-Race – Dean Shabira Karunia and Aditya Permana (International Relations, Bina Nusantara University).
3. REDD+ Cooperation between Indonesia and Norway and Its Impact on Indonesian Forest Governance in 2010-2020 – Amalia Z Azzahra and Paramitaningrum (International Relations, Bina Nusantara University).
4. Shared Challenges And Opportunities In Ending Child Marriage In South Asia: The Case Of India And Bangladesh – Farah Salsabila Firdaus (International Relations, Bina Nusantara University)..
5. Business Model Canvas: SMEs Recovery during the COVID-19 Pandemic – Sri Hartati, Engkus Kuswarno, Purwanti Hadisiwi, Funny Mustikasi Elita (Faculty of Communication Science, Padjadjaran University).

Parallel Session 2: Global Governance and Multilateralism

• Moderators: Ella S. Prihatini, Sukmawani Bela Pertiwi (Binus University)
• Discussant: Prof. Marijke Breuning (University of North Texas, US)

• Presenter:

1. Clustering Different Learning Behaviour with Model of Culture – Elia Oey and Jason Lim (Management Department, Binus University and Pradita University).
2. The Effects of Financial Status on Financial Management: An Investigation Among Indonesian Millennials – Ivan Destian Butar Butar, Yolanda Rahmalia Belda, Christian Haposan Pangaribuan, Sri Maharsi, Okky Yuliani Puteri, Desman Hidayat, Okta Prihatma Bayu Putra (Binus University and Sampoerna University).
3. The Effectiveness Of The UK – France Joint Border Management in Dealing With The Phenomenon of Illegal Immigrants in 2009-2016 – Dalilah Hisyam Abdat and Paramitaningrum (International Relations Department, Binus University).
4. Voluntary Intention to Leave a Job during Covid-19 Pandemic: A Perspective from Indonesia – Damar Aji Irawan and Karuthan Chinna (Binus University & Taylor’s University Malaysia)
5. The Relationship Between Foreign Workers’ Perceived Organizational Support, Cross-cultural Adjustment, and Performance in Hospitality Industry – Novita Indah Mulyaningrum, Dendy Rosman, Ichwan Masnadi, Laurencia Feriska (Management Department, Binus University).
6. Ethnic mobilization in the disruption era: Asian-American community’s responses to the rise of Anti-Asian violence in the United States – Archel Milka Hidayat and Ratu Ayu Asih Kusuma Putri (International Relations Department, Binus University).

Parallel Session 3: Gender and Intersectionality in World Politics

• Moderator: Elisabeth Dewi, Ph.D. (Universitas Katolik Parahyangan/Unpar)
• Discussant: Dr. Rebecca Strating (La Trobe University, Australia)

• Presenter:

1. Gender and COVID-19 Vaccines in the Media: Evidence from Indonesia – Agnes Isna Kuswondo (International Relations Department, Binus University).
2. Youths’ Perception on Image-Based Sexual Abuse (IBSA): Evidence from Indonesia – Angelica Cania Widjaja (International Relations Department, Binus University).
3. Analysis Of News Coverage On Covid-19 In Indonesia By Australian Media – Marlina Sugiarto (International Relations Department, Binus University).
4. Student’s Experiences Undertaking New Colombo Plan (NCP) Program In Indonesia: Improving Australia’s Public Diplomacy? – Nella Fanesanidya Siregar (International Relations Department, Binus University).
5. The Impediments of the Mainstreaming Gender Policy on Protection and Empowerment of Women in Social Conflict – Sartika Soesilowati (Airlangga University).

Parallel Session 4: Security, Diplomacy, and Foreign Policy Studies

• Moderator: Curie Maharani Savitri, Ph.D. (Binus University), Dr. Siti Mutiah Setiawati (Universitas Gadjah Mada/UGM)
• Discussant: Prof. Bernard Loo (Nanyang Technological University/NTU Singapore)

• Presenter:

1. China’s Turn to Twiplomacy: Efforts to Counter Negative Narratives Online – Irene Rahafi (International Relations Department, Binus University).
2. The New Territorial ISIS in Southeast Asia: Networking ISIS in Indonesia, Philipine and Malaysia – Tia Mariatul Kibtiah and Reza Yahyu (International Relations Department, Binus University).
3. Indonesian Government Strategy to Counter Terrorist Mobility: Case Study of Pro-Is Deportees (2016 – 2020) – Andi Raihanah Azhar and Curie Maharani Savitri (International Relations Department, Binus University).
4. Transnational advocacy networks in global climate crisis discourse: tactics and impacts of Fridays for Future campaign – Wenny Louise Karipuy and Ratu Ayu Asih Kusuma Putri (International Relations Department, Binus University).
5. The UAE-Israel Diplomatic Peace Effect On Indonesia – Tia Mariatul Kibtiah and Ammar Haidar (International Relations Department, Binus University).

Parallel Session 5: Non-Convetional/Contemporary Issues/International Business

• Moderator: Andrias Damaryadi, Ph.D. (Universitas Komputer Indonesia/Unikom Bandung)
• Discussant: Cheng-Chwee Kuik, Ph.D. (National University of Malaysia/NUM Malaysia)

• Presenter:

1. The Role Of Middle Power Country From Global- South In Multilateral Climate Change Negotiation Conference: Indonesia Role In Katowice Climate Change Conference – Moch Faisal Karim, Adam Haza Apriano Pratama (International Relations Department, Binus University).
2. Indonesian Economic Diplomacy toward Palm Oil: Indonesia’s Respond to the EU Resolution on Palm Oil and Deforestation of Rainforest – Salsabilah Hamid and Paramitaningrum (International Relations Department, Binus University).
3. The Role of Korean Drama in South Korea’s Cultural Diplomacy to Indonesia (2009-2019) – Brygitta GQ Wangania and Paramitaningrum (International Relations Department, Binus University).
4. CLMV, ASEAN6 and China’s Belt And Road Initiative: Economically Secure, But Politically Insecure – Aditya Permana and Mochammad Taufan (International Relations Department, Binus University).