The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS): A threat to Indonesia?

Abstract

Democratization process in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), well known as the Arab Spring, led to increased instability in the region. The establishment of Islamic State (IS) following the Arab Spring, had threatened not only MENA region, but also spread to other regions. IS has posed a significant security threat in Indonesia and other ASEAN members with its abhorrent crimes including suicide bomb attacks. Not only related to political and military, the threat also affected on human security; include economic, community, social, and other forms of harm to the overall livelihood and wellbeing of individuals. An example of IS atrocity was bomb explosion in Central Jakarta on January 2016. Through official statement, IS claimed responsibility on bomb attack and conducted by its khalifah troops. Other bombs that failed to explode were targeted all over the country from Sabang in Northern Sumatra, to Merauke in Papua. Other threats related to recruitment process of new IS member using conventional and social media. IS Propaganda contents using social media emphasized on violent, human rights violations, and the use of children troop, had led the ban of IS by the Indonesian government. Therefore, to combat IS the government need to cooperate intensively with other stakeholders with concern to human security issues. Beside addressed to domestic community, cooperation should also involve other states in the region, and international level. This paper aimed to answer question: “what human security issues caused by IS in Indonesia?” Further question related to the effectiveness of the above mentioned cooperation to reduce human security threats.