UNDIP, Semarang (September 11, 2025) – Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP) held a scientific paper presentation by three prospective professors on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. in the Academic Senate Meeting Room, 3rd floor of the SA-MWA Building, Tembalang campus. The candidates were Ika Riswanti Putranti, A.Md.Ak., S.H., M.H., Ph.D., and Dr. Laila Kholid Alfirdaus, S.IP., M.PP., from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, and Dr. Sukirno, S.H., M.Si., from the Faculty of Law.
Opening the session, Ika Riswanti, Ph.D., presented her paper titled “International Law in the Era of Mega-Free Trade Agreements and Disruptive Technologies: Transnational Legal Process in Balancing National Interests and Emerging Global Norms.” She explained that the proliferation of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and the rise of mega-FTAs reflect a shift toward an increasingly complex global trade law architecture. The inability of the WTO to address new issues—such as digital trade, e-commerce, environmental standards, labor rights, and disruptive technologies including AI, blockchain, biotechnology, robotics, and space technology—has driven countries to seek alternative forums. Yet, overlapping regulations in various FTAs have created a “spaghetti bowl effect,” causing legal uncertainty, higher transaction costs, and trade discrimination.
In this context, mega-FTAs emerge as a solution to unify regional agreements within a framework more responsive to global developments. Ika Riswanti, Ph.D., stressed that the Transnational Legal Process (TLP) is essential as a dynamic approach to balancing national interests with global norms. Through interaction, interpretation, internalization, and compliance, TLP enables the adoption and institutionalization of international norms related to disruptive technologies into domestic law, while safeguarding national sovereignty.
The Indonesian case in the RCEP illustrates how ratification, Constitutional Court rulings, and domestic legal instruments integrate national interests with global demands. “In an increasingly polycentric global order, TLP enables Indonesia not only to be a norm taker but also a norm entrepreneur in strategic issues such as the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement negotiations and international AI governance. Without this framework, the state risks losing regulatory autonomy,” Ika said.
The second candidate, Dr. Laila Kholid, presented her paper “From Politics to Public Policy: Academic Relevance, Methodology, and Practice.” She explained that the integrative paradigm in political public policy makes a significant contribution to understanding the connection between political processes and policy outcomes.
This approach does not treat politics as an independent variable or policy as a mere product of politics. Instead, politics and public policy are viewed as inherently connected. Political dialectics, filled with contestation of interests, power, and values, are concretely reflected in the form, choices, and direction of public policy. “Our collective task is to safeguard public goodness within policy,” Dr. Laila said.
In the final session, Dr. Sukirno discussed “The Politics of Legal Diversity and Equality in Recognizing Indigenous Peoples and Their Traditional Rights.” He argued that law is a product of both legislative and executive politics. From the perspective of Indonesian legal politics, Pancasila serves as the guiding principle, comprising four pillars: integration, democracy and the rule of law, social justice, and freedom of religion. However, indigenous peoples often struggle to defend their rights, particularly customary land rights, and are frequently subjected to criminalization and discrimination in public services.
“It is time for the government to build a legal system that recognizes diversity and equality by acknowledging indigenous peoples as distinct communities and granting them equal treatment through affirmative action. The government must consistently protect and promote indigenous welfare, Parliament should enact an Indigenous Peoples Law, and the Supreme Court must prioritize substantive justice,” Dr. Sukirno said. (Public Communication/ UNDIP/ Dhany)