Semarang, 14th of May 2025 – The Department of International Relations, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Diponegoro, held guest lecture addressing strategic issues in security studies. This time, the lecture titled “The Transnational Evolution of Jihadi Movements in Southeast Asia” featured Prof. Greg Barton, Chair in Global Islamic Politics at Deakin University, Australia, as the keynote speaker.

Held at the FISIP Undip Auditorium, the event was attended by International Relations students from the 2022, 2023, and 2024 cohorts. The lecture aimed to provide an in-depth understanding of how Salafi jihadi networks transcend national borders, adapt to shifting political environments, and pose significant threats to regional stability in Southeast Asia.

As a renowned academic and expert in global Islamic politics, Prof. Greg Barton has long studied the evolution of jihadi movements both in Southeast Asia and globally. In this lecture, he shared insights and reflections from his most recent research, highlighting how Salafi jihadi networks continue to evolve across borders, respond to political shifts, and challenge regional and global security. While focusing on Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, Prof. Barton also contextualized the discussion within global trends of terrorism and radicalization—offering a broader framework to understand contemporary patterns of extremism and state responses worldwide.

The event was formally opened by Dr. S. Rouli Manalu, S.Sos., M.Comm.St., Ph.D., Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs at FISIP Undip, who emphasized the importance of academic forums such as this in cultivating student awareness of global challenges, particularly in international security studies.

Moderated by Muhammad Subhan, S.IP., M.InternatRel., lecturer at the Department of International Relations, the session featured dynamic interactions and a robust Q&A segment. Students’ enthusiasm was evident through their sharp, critical questions—demonstrating a deep engagement with both regional and global security issues.

At the close of the session, Prof. Greg Barton expressed his appreciation for the students’ active participation. “I was truly impressed by the quality of questions from the students. They demonstrated sharp critical thinking and a strong awareness of the political-security dynamics in Southeast Asia,” he stated. He also noted FISIP Undip’s significant role as an educational institution that fosters global awareness among its students. “Without formal education like this, it would be incredibly difficult to engage deeply with international security studies,” he added.

This public lecture reaffirmed the commitment of the Department of International Relations at FISIP Undip to enriching students’ understanding of international security issues and underscored Undip’s active role in global academic discourse.