Yogyakarta, May 18th 2020—UGM’s Department of International Relation cooperated with the National University of Singapore to hold a discussion titled “Southeast Asia’s COVID-19 Battle: Current Responses and Future Outcomes” with Mustafa Izzudin as a senior professor in National University of Singapore. The discussion was guided by Treviliana Eka Putri as a professor in UGM’s Department of International Relation. The discussion about ASEAN’s response to Covid-19 and future implications was explained through an international relations perspective.“Covid-19 has changed our view about geopolitics,” Mustafa explained to open the discussion. The analysis elaborated by Mustafa was packed with several perspectives. First, through the perspective of traditional geopolitics that looks at the interaction between nations. Second, through neoclassical geopolitics that opens domestic black box. Third, through regionalism that sees how regional cooperation and coordination is important in fighting this pandemic. Fourth, from the perspective of good international citizenship in which global interest is more important than national interest. Lastly, from the perspective of global governance.
“We can see how nations are helping one another. For example, there was India that helped to give medical supplies to 15 countries including Myanmar and Philippine. There was also China that conducts ‘mask diplomacy’ by giving medical supply to countries fighting the pandemic,” Mustofa elaborated.
“In ASEAN, we have countries that have a varying economic standard, bureaucratic capacity, health care, and characteristic of citizens. In Singapore, we have a higher case compared to Indonesia. This is because our region is filled by more citizens. Hence, the possibility for the virus to spread is higher and quicker. However, by conducting aggressive mass testing and a tight physical distancing measures, the pandemic can be controlled,” Mustofa said. read more
