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ANALYSIS OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS RESEARCH IN INDONESIA USING
THE SCOPUS DATABASE
M. SYAPRIN ZAHIDI
syaprin123@umm.ac.id
Senior Lecturer in the Department of International Relations at the University of Muhammadiyah
Malang (Indonesia). He earned his Master's in International Relations at Universitas Gadjah Mada
and holds a BA in International Relations from the University of Muhammadiyah Malang. Now he
continue his Ph.D in International Studies at Universiti Utara Malaysia. His research interests
include International Relations, Foreign Policy Analysis, South Pacific Studies, Diplomacy, and
International Law. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8482-7600.
MUHAMMAD FUAD BIN OTHMAN
mfuad@uum.edu.my
Professor on politics and international relations at Universiti Utara Malaysia (Malaysia). Among
the notable research that he has done included a grant from the Terengganu Government
on Political Transformation in Terengganu, Maqasid Syariah Politics Section under PMO
2015 & 2017, Issues of Security and Politics Towards General Elections in Malaysia 2022
under KDN and Perak in the 13th General Elections. His research interests include
International Relations Other Economics, Business And Management N.E.C.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9319-7417.
Abstract
This article examines the progress of trends and orientations in international relations
research in Indonesia using the Scopus database and a bibliometric methodology. This
research is significant in that it supplements previous studies that aim to chart international
relations research in Indonesia by examining the curriculum and expertise of each lecturer
across various campuses. However, there has not been a comprehensive study that maps
international relations research in Indonesia using Scopus data. Several points are analyzed,
specifically: The information provided includes three main categories: (1) Annual outputs and
Subject Areas, (2) Most Contributing authors, institutions, and nations, and (3) Influential
Works. The author uses the Scopus database to gather publications on studies on international
relations research in Indonesia. The data gathering was subsequently visualized using
VOSviewer. The study reveals that between 2014 and 2023, there are a total of 390
documents in the Scopus database that specifically address research on international relations
research in Indonesia. I. Gede Wahyu Wicaksana has the most documents, totaling 8. This
study aims to examine and present data on international relations research conducted in
Indonesia, enabling scholars to identify innovative aspects of international relations research.
The field of international relations research in Indonesia is categorized into eight distinct
clusters, each with a prominent theme or research focus. These clusters encompass
international trade, China, international relations, Indonesia, the Cold War, ASEAN, Covid-19,
and Japan. Overall, this article contributes to mapping new research potentials in international
relations research in Indonesia that have not been explored in more depth by international
relations scholars in Indonesia.
JANUS.NET, e-journal of International Relations
e-ISSN: 1647-7251
VOL. 16, Nº. 1
May-October 2025, pp. 57-79
Analysis of International Relations Research in Indonesia Using the Scopus Database
M. Syaprin Zahidi, Muhammad Fuad Bin Othman
58
Keywords
Bibliometrics, International Relations, Indonesia, Scopus, VOSviewer.
Resumo
Este artigo analisa a evolução das tendências e orientações da investigação em relações
internacionais na Indonésia, utilizando a base de dados Scopus e uma metodologia
bibliométrica. Esta investigação é significativa na medida em que complementa estudos
anteriores que visam mapear a investigação em relações internacionais na Indonésia,
examinando o currículo e as competências de cada docente em vários campos. No entanto,
ainda não existe um estudo exaustivo que mapeie a investigação em relações internacionais
na Indonésia utilizando dados da Scopus. São analisados vários tópicos. A informação
fornecida inclui três categorias principais: (1) produções anuais e áreas temáticas, (2)
autores, instituições e nações que mais contribuem e (3) trabalhos com impacto. Os autores
utilizam a base de dados Scopus para reunir publicações sobre estudos de investigação em
relações internacionais na Indonésia. A recolha de dados foi posteriormente visualizada com
recurso ao VOSviewer. O estudo revela que, entre 2014 e 2023, há um total de 390
documentos na base de dados Scopus que abordam especificamente a investigação sobre
relações internacionais na Indonésia. I. Gede Wahyu Wicaksana tem o maior número de
documentos, totalizando 8. Este estudo tem como objetivo examinar e apresentar dados sobre
a investigação em relações internacionais realizada na Indonésia, permitindo aos académicos
identificar aspetos inovadores da investigação em relações internacionais. Este campo de
estudo na Indonésia é categorizado em oito grupos distintos, cada um com um tema ou foco
de investigação proeminente. Estes grupos englobam o comércio internacional, a China, as
relações internacionais, a Indonésia, a Guerra Fria, a ASEAN, a Covid-19 e o Japão. De um
modo geral, este artigo contribui para mapear novos potenciais de investigação em relações
internacionais na Indonésia que ainda não foram explorados em maior profundidade pelos
académicos de relações internacionais na Indonésia..
Palavras-chave
Bibliometria, Relações Internacionais, Indonésia, Scopus, VOSviewer.
How to cite this article
Zahidi, M. Syaprin & Othman, Muhammad Fuad Bin (2025). Analysis of International Relations
Research in Indonesia Using the Scopus Database. Janus.net, e-journal of international relations.
VOL. 16, Nº. 1. May-October 2025, pp. 57-79. DOI https://doi.org/10.26619/1647-7251.16.1.4.
Article submitted on 6th July 2024 and accepted for publication on 15th September 2024.
JANUS.NET, e-journal of International Relations
e-ISSN: 1647-7251
VOL. 16, Nº. 1
May-October 2025, pp. 57-79
Analysis of International Relations Research in Indonesia Using the Scopus Database
M. Syaprin Zahidi, Muhammad Fuad Bin Othman
59
ANALYSIS OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS RESEARCH IN
INDONESIA USING THE SCOPUS DATABASE
M. SYAPRIN ZAHIDI
MUHAMMAD FUAD BIN OTHMAN
I. Introduction
The field of international relations emerged in England in 1919 to avert conflicts and
foster global harmony. The outbreak of World War I can be attributed to the lack of
effective communication and understanding among European countries at that time. The
absence of intense diplomatic and consular relations resulted in negative perceptions and
misunderstandings, ultimately leading to the war. The negative opinions eventually
escalated tensions and conflicts amongst the parties involved, ultimately culminating in
the outbreak of World War I from 1914 to 1918 (Pareira, 1999).
After World War I, international connections emerged to foster favorable national
sentiments and promote collaboration through diplomatic and consular connections. This
significant interaction is anticipated to mitigate tensions among nations during that
period and prevent warfare (Baylis & Smith, 2001).
The field of international relations originated in England (Anglo-Saxon) and subsequently
expanded to mainland Europe (Continental Europe). It later developed in the United
States (Anglo-America) and eventually extended to third-world nations, including Latin
America, Africa, and Asia (including Indonesia) (Pareira, 1999).
In Indonesia, the field of international relations has experienced significant growth. In
2023, numerous universities have established dedicated study courses in International
Relations affiliated with the Indonesian International Relations Association (AIHII).
International Relations is categorized into nine regions: Sumatra, Jabodetabek, West
Java, DI Yogyakarta, Central Java, East Java, Bali Lombok, East Indonesia, and
Kalimantan. In total, there are 73 study programs available in these regions (AIHII,
2020).
The proliferation of International Relations study programs in Indonesia has naturally led
to the advancement of research on International Relations carried out by academics
across various study programs. The research topics pursued by these academics in
Indonesia are closely linked to their educational backgrounds. For instance, in several
International Relations study programs in Indonesia, research topics are categorized into
JANUS.NET, e-journal of International Relations
e-ISSN: 1647-7251
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Analysis of International Relations Research in Indonesia Using the Scopus Database
M. Syaprin Zahidi, Muhammad Fuad Bin Othman
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three clusters: International Security, International Political Economy, and Transnational
Society (Puspitasari et al., 2014).
The views utilized in this context encompass various approaches, such as realism,
liberalism, constructivism, developmentalism, feminism, postmodernism, and critical
theory. Prior research has highlighted the criticisms raised by scholars regarding
International Relations study programs in Indonesia. One primary concern is the absence
of an Indigenous theory of International Relations, which can be attributed to various
factors such as the challenges in theory development, limited resources, the slower
progress of social science in Indonesia, and the relatively recent establishment of
International Relations study programs in the country (Puspitasari et al., 2014) However,
no previous research specifically investigated the direction of international relations
research in the Scopus database, which is why This research was designed to enhance
the existing scholarly resources in the field of International Relations research in
Indonesia.
II. Methodology
This study used bibliometric analysis to examine scientific data on international relations
research conducted in Indonesia, as retrieved from the Scopus database. Bibliometric
analysis is a field within information and library science that employs statistical methods
to examine bibliographic data derived from scientific publications. Xicheng Yin, Hongwei
Wang, Wei Wang, and Kevin Zhu define bibliometric analysis as contemporary statistical
methodologies and data extraction techniques within informatics. It presents a distinctive
perspective on a particular subject and facilitates the discovery of previously
unrecognized information. Originally part of library science, bibliometrics has recently
developed to evaluate research advancements on certain topics, including the analysis
of a journal's bibliometric data over a specified period (Yin et al., 2020).
Bibliometric analysis is a rigorous methodology that provides a detailed representation
of knowledge structure, evaluation, and quantification. It examines explicitly scientific
articles obtained via databases. This article was generated utilizing the Scopus database.
Scopus is widely regarded as a vast international database encompassing many
documents, including articles, reviews, proceedings, editorials, books, and book chapters
across multiple disciplines. In addition, researchers utilize VOSviewer software to visually
represent the study map. VOSviewer has a more comprehensive range of capabilities
and can generate advanced visualizations ahead of other bibliometric analysis
applications (van Eck & Waltman, 2010). This study utilized a research framework of five
distinct stages, as illustrated in Table 1.
The initial phase of this research involves the identification of the primary theme. The
research focuses on the trajectory of international relations research in Indonesia
between 2014-2023, as documented in the Scopus Database. The second stage of this
research involves identifying the problem formulation and establishing research
objectives. Formulating challenges and research objectives is employed to ascertain the
trajectory of international relations research in Indonesia between 2014-2023 based on
the Scopus Database. The research uses the technique of Systematic Literature Review
(SLR), facilitated by programs such as Mendeley for the automatic presentation of article
sources, VOSviewer for data visualization, and Scopus as a reference source.
JANUS.NET, e-journal of International Relations
e-ISSN: 1647-7251
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May-October 2025, pp. 57-79
Analysis of International Relations Research in Indonesia Using the Scopus Database
M. Syaprin Zahidi, Muhammad Fuad Bin Othman
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Table 1. Steps in Conducting Research with Reference Sources from Scopus
Research Implementation Stage
Step I
Step III
Step IV
Step V
Determining the
research topic.
Analysis of
International
Relations
Research in
Indonesia using
the Scopus
Database
Article Search
and Selection.
Determine a
reputable
journal as a
journal
database,
namely Scopus.
Use the
database to find
related articles
for reference.
Searched for
articles with the
keyword
"Indonesia and
International
Relations" and
then found 390
related articles.
.
Thematic analysis
and
conceptualization
Download the RIS
file from Scopus,
which is then
extracted into the
Mendeley
application for
automatic
reference
formatting.
Extract the RIS
file into the
VOSviewer
application to
visualize data
from Scopus
through network,
overlay, and
density
visualization.
Then, the results
from the
VOSviewer
visualization will
be downloaded to
analyse them.
Finding and
compiling research
results
Choose the article's
title that suits the
needs and group it
according to its
relationship to the
topic of
International
Relations Research
in Indonesia.
Opening, reading,
analyzing, and
concluding the
results of previous
research from the
articles contained in
the Mendeley
application
Analyzing the
coherence of these
findings with the
topic of
International
Relations Research
in Indonesia
Develop a narration
based on article
data that has been
analyzed, as well as
data visualization
from the VOSviewer
application.
Determine the
general description
for compiling
research results.
Build references
with the Mendeley
application.
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e-ISSN: 1647-7251
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Analysis of International Relations Research in Indonesia Using the Scopus Database
M. Syaprin Zahidi, Muhammad Fuad Bin Othman
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The third phase of this research involves searching for and selecting articles. Currently,
Scopus serves as a reliable repository of authoritative scholarly articles. A theme analysis
will be carried out in the fourth stage to examine the study of international relations in
Indonesia. To initiate this procedure, the initial step involves acquiring the Scopus RIS
file, which compiles articles from previously conducted journal searches. The Mendeley
program was subsequently utilized to extract the RIS files to compile the reference
sources automatically. The data acquired from the Scopus database is subsequently
displayed in the VOSviewer program utilizing the Scopus RIS file. Network visualization,
overlay visualization, and density visualization are distinct ways of visualizing data.
Subsequently, the gathered data is examined. Figure 1 below describes the phases
involved in data analysis.
Figure 1. Data Analysis Stages
Source: Author analysis
Data collection is the initial phase of the data analysis process. The data gathered thus
far consists of prior articles about the subject issue. The information is sourced from the
reputable and reliable Scopus database. The data gathered in this investigation will
subsequently be transformed into qualitative and quantitative data. Quantitative data
refers to statistical information obtained from the Scopus database, while qualitative
material is managed using the VOSviewer application. The data was condensed in the
second phase. Reduction entailed eliminating information considered extra or less
valuable to the investigation. Data reduction enhances the researcher's ability to focus
and generate novel, reliable, and understandable discoveries.
Data presentation is the third stage in this table. Data can be presented using visual aids
such as pictures, charts, tables, or concise summaries based on the gathered data. In
conclusion, the final element of this research involves visualizing and confirming the data.
This research provides quantitative data to elucidate and enhance comprehension of the
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e-ISSN: 1647-7251
VOL. 16, Nº. 1
May-October 2025, pp. 57-79
Analysis of International Relations Research in Indonesia Using the Scopus Database
M. Syaprin Zahidi, Muhammad Fuad Bin Othman
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investigated subject. The researcher also pays attention to the qualitative data obtained
from this investigation, which is essential. Anticipated outcomes of this research include
the emergence of novel discoveries, conclusions, and ideas and the advancement of
social science concerning the discussed topics, specifically the study of International
Relations in Indonesia. This will ensure that the research findings are current and
complement prior research. Research discoveries might manifest as validating prior
research findings that remain theoretical or as entirely novel research findings.
III. Result
Leading Authors, Institutions, and Countries Represented in
international relations research in Indonesia
This section provides an overview of the individuals who have made significant
contributions to the field of International Relations in Indonesia. The information includes
the authors' names, affiliated institutions, and respective countries of origin. Figure 2
demonstrates that I. Gede Wahyu Wicaksana, a scholar from Universitas Airlangga in
Indonesia, is among the most influential authors in the field of International Relations in
Indonesia. This is evident from the quantity of documents in the Scopus database, which
amounts to eight (Darmayadi & Purnamasari, 2022; Effendi, 2022; Gede Wahyu
Wicaksana, 2021; Phillips & Hiariej, 2016; Thalang, 2022; Wicaksana, 2022b, 2016,
2017, 2018, 2019, 2022a; Wicaksana & Karim, 2022; Wicaksana & Santoso, 2022)
Moch Faisal Karim is the subsequent author who has contributed significantly to
advancing International Relations studies in Indonesia with seven documents.(Effendi,
2022; Hermawan et al., 2023; Hicks, 2021; Karim & Tiffani, 2022; Lumayag, 2020;
Wicaksana & Santoso, 2022) Following him is Ali Maksum, who has contributed four
documents.(Dermawan et al., 2021; Maksum, 2021, 2022; Maksum et al., 2020;
Maksum & Bustami, 2014) Windy Demawan(Dermawan et al., 2021, 2022; Nurhasan
Affandi et al., 2019), Lukas Giessen(Faxon et al., 2022; Giessen et al., 2016; Wibowo &
Giessen, 2018), Anna Grzywacz (Grzywacz, 2020b, 2020a; Grzywacz & Gawrycki, 2021),
Mohamad Rosyidin (Rosyidin, 2017, 2023; Rosyidin & Dir, 2021), Sarah Teo(Boon & Teo,
2022; Ichsan Azis et al., 2023; Singh et al., 2017), and Lee Wilson (Brigg et al., 2016;
McDonald & Wilson, 2017; Wilson, 2017) each have three documents. The upcoming
author is Gilang Nur Alam (Nurhasan Affandi et al., 2019), who has submitted a single
document. The figure below provides a comprehensive overview of the prominent authors
who have made significant contributions to the field of international relations research in
Indonesia.
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Analysis of International Relations Research in Indonesia Using the Scopus Database
M. Syaprin Zahidi, Muhammad Fuad Bin Othman
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8
7
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
1
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
I. Gede Wahyu Wicaksana
Moch Faisal Karim
Ali Maksum
Windy Demawan
Lukas Giessen
Anna Grzywacz
Mohamad Rosyidin
Sarah Teo
Lee Wilson
Gilang Nur Alam
Documents by author
21
18
15
15
15
15
9
8
7
7
Universitas Indonesia
Universitas Airlangga
The University of Queensland
Universitas Gadjah Mada
Universitas Padjadjaran
Bina Nusantara University
University of Melbourne
The Australian National University
Nanyang Technological University
National University of Singapore
0 5 10 15 20 25
Documents by affiliation
Documents by affiliation
Figure 2. The Most Authors Contribution to International Relations Research in Indonesia, 2014–
2023
Source: Author analysis from Scopus (2023) database.
Figure 3 demonstrates that Based on the author's affiliation, The University of Indonesia
is the primary institution driving the advancement of International Relations research in
Indonesia. It has contributed 21 documents, making it the most influential institution in
this field. Following closely behind is Universitas Airlangga, with 18 documents. The
University of Queensland, Gadjah Mada University, Padjadjaran University, and Bina
Nusantara University each have 15 documents. The University of Melbourne has nine
documents, and The Australian National University has eight. Nanyang Technological
University and the National University of Singapore both have seven documents.
Figure 3. Affiliation Contribution to International Relations Research in Indonesia, 2014–2023
Source: Author analysis from Scopus (2023) database.
JANUS.NET, e-journal of International Relations
e-ISSN: 1647-7251
VOL. 16, Nº. 1
May-October 2025, pp. 57-79
Analysis of International Relations Research in Indonesia Using the Scopus Database
M. Syaprin Zahidi, Muhammad Fuad Bin Othman
65
180
77
45 40 19 18 17 16 15
9
0
50
100
150
200
Indonesia Australia United
States
United
Kingdom
Malaysia China Singapore Japan Germany South
Korea
DOCUMENTS BY COUNTRY OR TERRITORY
Documents by country or territory
Figure 4 describes the nations from which the contributions to International Relations
research in Indonesia originate. Indonesia has 180 documents, Australia has 77
documents, the United States has 45 documents, the United Kingdom has 40 documents,
Malaysia has 19 documents, China has 18 documents, Singapore has 17 documents,
Japan has 16 documents, Germany has 15 documents, and South Korea has nine
documents.
Figure 4. Author's Countries in international relations research in Indonesia
Source: Author analysis from Scopus (2023) database.
Influential Works in International Relations Research in Indonesia
Table 2 displays the top ten most referenced publications, the articles with the most
significant impact produced in the field of International Relations research in Indonesia.
The citations are included in the Scopus database (as of January 2024), indicating that
publications referencing papers in International Relations research in Indonesia are also
published in other journals indexed by Scopus. The article "Trading forests: Land-use
change and carbon emissions embodied in production and exports of forest-risk
commodities" by Henders, S., Persson, U.M., and Kastner, T. has been referenced 207
times in the Scopus database. The article "Land use biodiversity impacts embodied in
international food trade" by Chaudhary, A., and Kastner, T. has been referenced 158
times. The publication "Frontiers of Commodification: State Lands and Their
Formalisation" by Kelly, A.B., and Peluso, N.L. has received 95 citations.
The essay "Diplomacy as theatre: Staging the Bandung conference of 1955" by Shimazu,
N. has been referenced 95 times. The article "From governance to government: The
strengthened role of state bureaucracies in forest and agricultural certification" by
Giessen, L., Burns, S., Sahide, M.A.K., Wibowo, A. has been referenced 90 times. The
works by Tong, T., Ortiz, J., Xu, C., Li, F., Tian, X., Sarkis, J., Geng, Y., ... Bleischwitz,
R., Xu, Y., Spiegel, S.J., Agrawal, S., Micah, D., ...Konolius, K., Paul, B., Ngoasong, M.Z.,
Nair, D. were cited 89, 72, 62, 57, and 53 times, respectively.
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Analysis of International Relations Research in Indonesia Using the Scopus Database
M. Syaprin Zahidi, Muhammad Fuad Bin Othman
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Table 2. Top Ten Most Cited Works
No
Authors
Title Article
Year, Source
Cited
1
Henders, S., Persson,
U.M., Kastner, T.
Trading forests: Land-use
change and carbon emissions
embodied in production and
exports of forest-risk
commodities
2015, Environmental
Research Letters,
10(12), 125012
207
2
Chaudhary, A., Kastner,
T.
Land use biodiversity impacts
embodied in international food
trade
2016, Global
Environmental
Change, 38, pp.
195–204
158
3
Kelly, A.B., Peluso, N.L.
Frontiers of Commodification:
State Lands and Their
Formalization
2015, Society and
Natural Resources,
28(5), pp. 473–495
95
4
Shimazu, N.
Diplomacy as theatre: Staging
the Bandung conference of 1955
2014, Modern Asian
Studies, 48(1), pp.
225–252
95
5
Giessen, L., Burns, S.,
Sahide, M.A.K., Wibowo,
A.
From governance to
government: The strengthened
role of state bureaucracies in
forest and agricultural
certification
2016, Policy and
Society, 35(1), pp.
71–89
90
6
Tong, T., Ortiz, J., Xu,
C., Li, F.
Economic growth, energy
consumption, and carbon dioxide
emissions in the E7 countries: A
bootstrap ARDL bound test
2020, Energy,
Sustainability and
Society, 10(1), 20
89
7
Tian, X., Sarkis, J.,
Geng, Y., ... Bleischwitz,
R., Xu, Y.
Evolution of China's water
footprint and virtual water trade:
A global trade assessment
2018, Environment
International, 121,
pp. 178–188
72
8
Spiegel, S.J., Agrawal,
S., Mikha, D.,
...Konolius, K., Paul, B.
Phasing Out Mercury? Ecological
Economics and Indonesia's
Small-Scale Gold Mining Sector
2018, Ecological
Economics, 144, pp.
1–11
62
9
Ngoasong, M.Z.
How international oil and gas
companies respond to local
content policies in petroleum-
producing developing countries:
A narrative enquiry
2014,
Energy Policy, 73,
pp. 471–479
57
10
Nair, D.
Saving face in diplomacy: A
political sociology of face-to-face
interactions in the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations
2019,
European Journal of
International
Relations, 25(3), pp.
672–697
53
*The Data Retrieved on 10 January 2024 in the Scopus database
Main Research, Cluster Analysis, and Mapping Study
Cluster Analysis
This section will elucidate the concepts deliberated upon in the field of International
Relations research in Indonesia from 2014 to 2023. A total of 390 documents were
analyzed, revealing the existence of 8 distinct concept clusters in this area of study.
Figure 5 depicts the cluster analysis of topics in the field of International Relations
research in Indonesia. This clustering aims to assist researchers in analyzing specific
themes for future research. If past researchers have often discussed a notion, the
corresponding circle will be more significant. Researchers can utilize this network to
compare their research findings with studies that are comparable or dissimilar to their
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e-ISSN: 1647-7251
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May-October 2025, pp. 57-79
Analysis of International Relations Research in Indonesia Using the Scopus Database
M. Syaprin Zahidi, Muhammad Fuad Bin Othman
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own. The network depicted below proves that, even if it belongs to the same cluster, one
thought maintains connections with ideas from distinct clusters. Table 3 displays the
identified clusters and the list of idea items.
Figure 5. Cluster analysis of concepts in international relations research in Indonesia, 2014-2023
Source: Author analysis from VOSviewer
Table 3 displays each cluster along with its corresponding idea elements. This suggests
that researchers, particularly those new to the field, can focus on alternative concepts if
they select a specific cluster. Researchers can determine the topics pertinent to their
research by utilizing the concepts offered in each cluster. Cluster 1 covers international
trade, trade relations, palm oil, forestry, deforestation, trade environment relations, and
Bali. Cluster 2 mostly centers around China, Brazil, Vietnam, Singapore, Turkey, ecology,
economic development, developing world, developing countries.
Cluster 3 covers international relations, diplomatic relations, foreign policy, state
building, human rights, Indonesian foreign policy. Cluster 4 explicitly examines topics
such as Indonesia, religion, gender relations, international migration, ethnography,
identity, tourism, comparative studies. Cluster 5 encompasses the Cold War, the regional
economy, West Papua, and the defense sector. Cluster 6 primarily focuses on ASEAN,
Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, economic. Covid-19, media, and epidemiology are all
components of Cluster 7. Cluster 8 specifically concentrates on Japan and Asia.
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Analysis of International Relations Research in Indonesia Using the Scopus Database
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Table 3. Cluster and items of concept
Cluster
Items of Concept
Total
Cluster 1
international trade, trade relations, palm oil, forestry,
deforestation, trade environment relations, Bali
7
Cluster 2
China, Brazil, Vietnam, Singapore, Turkey, ecology, economic
development, developing world, developing countries
11
Cluster 3
International relations, diplomatic relations, foreign policy, state
building, human rights, Indonesian foreign policy
6
Cluster 4
Indonesia, religion, gender relations, international migration,
ethnography, identity, tourism, comparative study
8
Cluster 5
cold war, regional economy, west papua, defense industry
4
Cluster 6
ASEAN, Vietnam, Singapore, economic, Thailand
5
Cluster 7
covid-19, media, epidemiology
3
Cluster 8
Japan, Asia
2
Source: Author analysis from VOSviewer
Mapping Study
This section will provide an overview of the prevailing research in the field of International
Relations research in Indonesia, focusing on the 8 clusters. To examine the prevailing
research, we employed VOSviewer to represent it visually. Cluster 1 in International
Relations research in Indonesia concentrates primarily on international trade and its
interconnectedness with other issues. Based on the graph, international trade is linked
to 20 additional words, as depicted in Figure 6.
Figure 6. Network Visualisation of Cluster 1
Source: Author analysis from VOSviewer
Cluster 2 in the field of International Relations research in Indonesia predominantly
focuses on China as a research topic, with several connections to other keywords. Based
on the graph, China is linked to 42 additional terms (refer to Figure 7).
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VOL. 16, Nº. 1
May-October 2025, pp. 57-79
Analysis of International Relations Research in Indonesia Using the Scopus Database
M. Syaprin Zahidi, Muhammad Fuad Bin Othman
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Figure 7. Network Visualisation of Cluster 2
Source: Author analysis from VOSviewer
Within Cluster 3, the research topic of International Relations is the most commonly
explored subject in the study of International Relations research in Indonesia. It is closely
connected to several other terms. Based on the graph, International relations are linked
to 27 additional terms (Figure 8).
Figure 8. Network Visualisation of Cluster 3
Source: Author analysis from VOSviewer
Cluster 4 in International Relations research in Indonesia predominantly focuses on the
research topic of Indonesia, which is extensively explored and interconnected with
several other issues. Based on the graph, Indonesia is linked to 39 additional terms
(Figure 9).
JANUS.NET, e-journal of International Relations
e-ISSN: 1647-7251
VOL. 16, Nº. 1
May-October 2025, pp. 57-79
Analysis of International Relations Research in Indonesia Using the Scopus Database
M. Syaprin Zahidi, Muhammad Fuad Bin Othman
70
Figure 9. Network Visualisation of Cluster 4
Source: Author analysis from VOSviewer
The word "cold war" has been extensively studied in international relations research in
Indonesia, particularly in Cluster 5. It is a widely researched topic with numerous
connections with other terminologies. Based on the graph, "cold war" is linked to four
different terms, as shown in Figure 10.
Figure 10. Network Visualisation of Cluster 5
Source: Author analysis from VOSviewer
"ASEAN" is the predominant research topic in Cluster 6 of International Relations
research in Indonesia and is closely connected to several other concepts. Based on the
graph, ASEAN is linked to 22 additional phrases, as shown in Figure 11.
JANUS.NET, e-journal of International Relations
e-ISSN: 1647-7251
VOL. 16, Nº. 1
May-October 2025, pp. 57-79
Analysis of International Relations Research in Indonesia Using the Scopus Database
M. Syaprin Zahidi, Muhammad Fuad Bin Othman
71
Figure 11. Network Visualisation of Cluster 6
Source: Author analysis from VOSviewer
Cluster 7 in International Relations research in Indonesia focuses extensively on the
research issue covid-19, which is the most commonly used phrase. This topic is closely
connected to several other terminologies. The graph shows a correlation between
covid-19 and four additional keywords (Figure 12).
Figure 12. Network Visualisation of Cluster 7
Source: Author analysis from VOSviewer
Cluster 8 in Indonesia's International Relations research prominently focuses on Japan
as a research topic, exhibiting several connections with other issues. Based on the graph,
Japan is linked to 11 additional terms (refer to Figure 13).