Muhamad Arif

Arif's research focuses on how threat perception and government strength shape Indonesia's choice between coercive and diplomatic approaches in the region. Alongside his PhD studies, Arif is a lecturer at the Department of International Relations, Universitas Indonesia. Previously, he worked as a researcher for the ASEAN Studies Program of The Habibie Center, a Jakarta-based think-tank, focusing on regional security issues, and the Center for Social Integrity, a Myanmar-based NGO concentrating on humanitarian issues. Arif’s research interests span the intersection between domestic politics and foreign policy, maritime security, and strategic culture. His works have been published in the Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs, Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies, Melbourne Asia Review, and the Indonesian Quarterly. Arif earned his MSc in Strategic Studies from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore, and holds a bachelor's degree from the Department of International Relations, Universitas Indonesia.