Jurnal Ragam Pengabdian
Vol. 3 No. 1 (Spesial Issue) (2026): "Dharma Samudera"

Beyond the Mainstream Approaches: Constructivist and Cultural Turns in Indonesian International Relations Scholarship (2015-2025)

Early Nalvi Hoata Sahureka (Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Jakarta)
Ahmad Prasetya Hady (Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Jakarta)



Article Info

Publish Date
28 Apr 2026

Abstract

This study examines the extent to which the constructivist turn and the cultural turn are reflected in Indonesian International Relations (IR) journal articles published between 2015 and 2025, and how these turns manifest in scholars’ research topics and analytical approaches. Using a qualitative content analysis of accredited Indonesian IR articles (published in SINTA 1-2 journals), the study finds a post-2015 rise in constructivist-cultural approaches, with the strongest concentration around 2019–2022. The turns manifest across four prominent clusters: (1) cultural diplomacy and soft power; (2) transnational issues and human rights, including advocacy networks and norm diffusion; (3) foreign policy and conflict framed through identity and ideational narratives; and (4) critical security studies, particularly securitization through discourse. While only some articles explicitly label “constructivism”, the majority apply constructivist reasoning implicitly by centering norms, identity, discourse, values, and representation as key explanatory variables. Overall, the findings indicate a substantively plural, contextual, and reflective trajectory in Indonesian IR research between 2015 and 2025.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

juragan

Publisher

Subject

Environmental Science Social Sciences Other

Description

Berisi hasil-hasil kegiatan pengabdian dan pemberdayaan masyarakat berupa penerapan berbagai bidang ilmu diantaranya pendidikan, ekonomi, agama, teknik, pertanian, sosial humaniora, komputer dan kesehatan yang ditulis dalam bahasa Indonesia maupun bahasa ...