ALSA 2025 meeting

National security laws and policies must evolve with the changing nature of multidimensional threats, following best-practice responses. The Republic of Indonesia is no exception. Security threats to Indonesia as a nation now involve a broad range of actors, across areas such as social unrest, terrorism, natural disasters, pandemics, cyber threats and transnational criminal organisations. In recent years, Indonesian law has been slow to keep pace. Indonesia not only maintains a military-centric approach to national security law and practice , but also perpetuates a fragmented web of sometimes-conflicting legal instruments, leading to institutional rivalry and inefficiency.

This paper evaluates Indonesia's legislative approach to national security. The paper first explores the prevailing security threats in Indonesia, including security threats generally overlooked within government and public discourse. Next, the paper brings all of Indonesia’s security-related laws and regulations together in one place, analysing the historical development of Indonesia’s national security laws to date and assessing whether these laws are still fit for purpose, noting Indonesia’s longstanding preference for a military-based approach over a civil-based one in shaping its national security policies. The paper concludes by suggesting areas of potential reform, both for the country itself and for similarly-situated nations looking to Indonesia as an example.