EDITORIAL 

Continuing Contribution on ASEAN Studies 

Warm greetings from Journal of ASEAN Studies (JAS). This edition is an exceptional 

one. JAS has been around for almost eight years in filling the gap in studies on ASEAN-related 

issue. To freshen up, in our eighth volume, we change the layout of the Journal so that it can 

be easy to read for our readers. The changes made are aimed at improving the quality of JAS 

to contribute to the development of ASEAN studies. These changes are also the first step in 

our ambition for JAS to be indexed in internationally reputable databases such as Scopus and 

the Web of Science (Thomson Reuters). 

There are also restructuring in our editorial boards. Moch Faisal Karim PhD is our 

current managing editor along with Dr Lili Yulyadi. To create more effective communications, 

we have decided to rearrange the editorial board to be more focused on a particular area of 

expertise. We are thankful for scholars and practitioners who served in our previous editorial 

boards. They will keep helping us to develop the Journal through their knowledge and guidance 

as our reviewers. 

Currently, we are happy to announce JAS will have eight scholars who serve as our 

international editorial board. Prof. Amitav Acharya of the American University and Assoc. 

Prof. Pierre van der Eng of Australian National University are still part of our editorial board 

since 2018. We would welcome Prof. Yahia H. Zoubir of KEDGE Business School, France, 

Prof. Jenn-Jaw Soong of National Cheng Keung University, Taiwan, Assoc. Prof. 

Nanthakumar Loganathan of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia, Assoc. Prof. Kuik 

Cheng-Chwee of National University of Malaysia (UKM), Assoc. Prof. Adam Tyson of Leeds 

University, United Kingdom, and Dr Abbas Mardani of the University of South Florida as our 

new editorial boards. 

We are proudly presenting to all readers Volume 8, no 1, 2020. In this volume, several 

issues related to economic diplomacy and terrorism as well as the development of ASEAN in 

regards to economic diplomacy, terrorism, as well as its relations with other regions. This 

volume is comprised of five articles. 

The first article, written by Dewa Gede Sidan Raeskyesa explores the relationship 

between growth in economic sectors, especially manufacturing, service, and agriculture, 

towards income inequality in ASEAN-5. In this article, Raeskyesa shows that the agricultural 



sector has been more inclusive than others, including manufacturing and services. Therefore, 

it is suggested that this sector can be enhanced and become the focus of the development 

agenda for the sample countries. 

The second article, written by Defbry Margiansyah examines how Indonesia’s 

economic diplomacy engages with the potential of digital and new economic activities in facing 

the challenges of digital disruption. He argues that Indonesia’s government has to pursue 

integrative strategies in its economic diplomacy by integrating new economy through the 

construction of “innovation diplomacy.” He further shows that the existing economic 

diplomacy is strongly directed to “conventional” commercial diplomacy. At the same time, it 

gives insufficient space for a new economy to develop significantly, due to the absence of 

concept supporting the operation off innovation-focused economic diplomacy. 

The third article, written by Floranesia Lantang and Edwin M.B. Tambunan examines 

the impact of the internationalization of Papuan issue on Indonesia’s Policy on the South 

Pacific Region. They argue that the internationalization of “West Papua” issue through social 

media has contributed to a shift of Indonesia’s policy to the South Pacific region from 

ignorance to initiative approach. However, they further argue that the initiative approach from 

Indonesia is merely narrowing the gap of the issue instead of reducing the internationalization 

of the West Papua issue.  

The fourth article, written by Ali Wibisono and Aisha R. Kusumasomantri, assess the 

cooperation between the European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations 

(ASEAN) in the field of counterterrorism. In this article, Wibisono and Kusumasomantri argue 

that that the ASEAN-EU counterterrorism (CT) cooperation is not about the targeting of 

specific terrorist individuals, cells, or organizations. Instead, CT cooperation is about 

facilitating a more comprehensive security governance cooperation where European standards 

and experience are transferred to Southeast Asia for purposes of regional security and 

diplomatic relations. 

The last article, written by Yunita Permatasari provides an overall assessment of the 

role of Indonesia’s in ASEAN Economic Community. She argues that Indonesia should see 

the potential of the AEC and maximize it to benefit the strengthening of Indonesia’s strength. 

Finally, as the editor-in-chief, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all authors 

who submitted their manuscripts to JAS. I would also like to extend my highest appreciation 

to all reviewers who have contributed to the quality of the manuscripts published in JAS. All 

parties that supported the Journal from the Indonesian Association for International Relations 

(AIHII), the Center for Business and Diplomatic Studies (CBDS) of the Department of 

International Relations, Bina Nusantara University, and Research and Technology Transfer 

Office (RTTO) Bina Nusantara University are also very much appreciated. 

 

Prof. Dr. Tirta N. Mursitama, Ph.D. 

Editor-in-Chief Journal of ASEAN Studies