Research Design (Quantitative, Qualitative, Mixed-Method Research)

international relations
By John Creswell - University of Nebraska (summarized by RN)

Mixed methods reserach has come of age. To include only quantitative and qualitative methods falls short of the major approaches being used today in the social and human sciences. The situation today is less quantitative versus qualitative and more how research practices lie somewhere on a continuum between the two. The knowlede claims, the strategies, and the method all contribute to a research approach that tends to be more quantitative, qualitative, or mixed. Definitions can hel further clarify the three approaches:

-       A quantitative approach is one in which the investigator primarily uses postpositivist claims for developing knowledge (i.e., cause and effect thinking,  reduction to specific variables and hypotheses and questions, use of measurement and observation, and the test of the theories),  employs strategies of inquiry such as experiments and surveys and collects data on predetermined instruments that yield statistical data.

-       Alternatively, a qualitative research is one in which the inquirer often makes knowldge claims based primarily on constructivist perspectives (i.e., multiple meanings of individual experiences, meanings socially and historically constructed, with an intent of developing a theory or pattern) or advocacy/participatory perspectives (i.e., politcal, ssue-oriented, collaborative, or change oriented) or both. It also uses strategies of inquiry such as narratives, phenomenologies, ethnographies, grounded theory studies, or case studies. The reseacher collects open-ended, emerging data with the primary intent of developing themes from the data.

-         Mixed-metods approach is one in which the reseacher tends to base knowledge claims on pragmatic grounds (e.g., consequence-oriented, problem-centered and pluralistic). It employes strategies of inquiry that involve collecting data either stimultaneously or sequentially to best understand research problems.



International Relations Major Paradigms

adam smith
Classical Realism is basically a theory about power and security. For classical realist, human nature has shaped the character of a country that tends to want power. Realism holds that politics is far more important than the economy. Although a country rich but politically weak to be considered as the 2nd state. Therefore, state will seek power, security, and most importantly, the state will seek the country autonomy because they live in a self-help system. Realism tend to think in simple and see the world in a simple, powerful is won. Thus, the stability in the realism depends on the presence or absence of a major war.

Classical Realism pada dasarnya adalah teori mengenai power dan security. Bagi classica realist, human nature lah yang membentuk karakter suatu negara yang cenderung ingin power. Realisme berpandangan bahwa politik jauh lebih penting dibanding ekonomi. Walaupun sebuah negara kaya secara tapi lemah secara politik akan dianggap sebagai negara ke-2. Oleh karena itu, hegara akan mencari power, security, dan yang paling penting adalah negara akan mencari keotonomian negaranya sebab mereka hidup dalam self-help sistem. Realism cenderung berpikir secara simple dan melihat dunia secara sederhana, yang kuat ialah yang menang. Sehingga, stabilitas didalam realisme bergantung pada ada atau tidaknya perang besar yang terjadi.

Neo-Realism is a branch of realism that found the country very concerned about the balance of power and the countries competing either to get power to invade another country (offensive neo-realism) or survive and make sure they do not lose power (defensive neo-realism). Neorealists said that the influence of the country led by who or what kind of political embrace will not change the behavior states. Thus, stability in structural realism depends on the presence or absence of power hegemony. Neo-realism assumes that the internasional system shapes the actions of a country, neo-realism is scientific. It is since neo-realism defines something by way of measure, such as for example the neo-realism look at the state air-power based on how much power it has (how many tanks owned by a state, the greater the number, the greater its power it has). For neo-realism, 'power' is not important, but the 'distribution' of power itself become the most important to the neo-realism. And according to neo-realism, stability depends on the change of power hegemony. As for the similarity of classical realism and neo-realism is both tend to be pessimistic and they both agree that the state is the main actor, that the world is anarchy, and that power it is very important for every country.

Neo-Realism merupakan cabang dari realism yang berpendapat bahwa negara sangat memikirkan balance of power dan negara-negara saling berkompetisi entah untuk mendapatkan power dengan menyerang negara lain (offensive neo-realism) atau bertahan dan memastikan mereka tidak kehilangan power (defensive neo-realism). Neorealists mengatakan bahwa tidak pengaruh negara tersebut dipimpin oleh siapa atau menganut politik macam apa tidak akan merubah states behaviour. Sehingga, stabilitas didalam structural realism bergantung pada ada atau tidaknya hegemony power. Neo-realisme beranggapan bahwa internasional sistem yang membentuk tindakan suatu negara, neo-realisme bersifat scientific karena neo-realisme mendefinisikan sesuatu dengan cara mengukurnya, seperti contohnya neo-realisme melihat negara ber-power berdasarkan seberapa besar power yang dimilikinya (berapa banyak tank yang dimiliki suatu negara, semakin besar jumlah yang dimilikinya maka semakin besar power yang dimilikinya). Bagi neo-realisme ‘power’ bukanlah hal yang penting, tetapi ‘distribusi’ dari power itu sendirilah yang merupakan hal terpenting bagi neo-realisme. Dan menurut neo-realisme, stabilitas itu tergantung dari perubahan hegemoni power. Sedangkan untuk persamaan dari realisme klasik dan neo-realisme adalah keduanya cenderung pesimis dan keduanya sama-sama setuju bahwa negara adalah aktor utama, bahwa dunia ini anarki, dan bahwa power itu merupakan hal yang sangat penting bagi setiap negara.

Classical realism focuses on Human Nature which is believed by the classical realism that the nature of men that make up the actions of a country, and assume that the nature of all human beings is evil, so that classical realism not be scientific because of the concept that the fundamental nature of all human evil cannot be proved. Then the most important thing for classical realism is 'power' that's it. And according to realism, stability depends on the number of wars that took place.

Realisme klasik berfokus kepada Human Nature yang mana dipercaya oleh kaum realisme klasik bahwa sifat dasar manusialah yang membentuk tindakan suatu negara, dan berasumsi bahwa sifat dasar semua manusia itu jahat, sehingga realisme klasik bukan bersifat scientific karena konsep bahwa sifat dasar semua manusia itu jahat tidak dapat dibuktikan. Lalu yang terpenting bagi realisme klasik adalah ‘power’ itu saja. Dan menurut realisme, stabilitas itu tergantung dari jumlah perang besar yang terjadi.

The emergence of liberalism paradigm has developed by John Locke in 17th century. It upholds the individual rights, freedom and property rights. Then it is developed become one of the paradigms in the dicipline of International Relations as called as Classical Liberalism. In Classical liberalism, state roles as major actor in international system, but there are also non-state actors, then Classical Liberalism emphasizes the corporation among states to achieve the same certain goals and create peace between actors. In 18th century, Immanuel Kant was created a theory. The theory says that between democratic states there will be no offense and this theory then become one of theories in the perspective of Classical Liberalism.

Muncul paradigma Liberalisme yang pertama kali dikembangkan oleh John Locke di abad ke 17 yang memperjuangkan hak-hak individu, kebebasan, dan hak atas properti. Kemudian berkembang menjadi salah satu paradigma dalam ilmu Hubungan Internasional yang disebut sebagai Liberalisme klasik. Dalam Liberalisme klaskik negara berperan sebagai aktor utama dalam sistem internasional, namun ada juga actor-aktor non negara yang berperan di sana, lalu Liberalisme klasik menekankan kerjasama antar negara untuk mencapai tujuan bersama dan menciptakan perdamaian antar negara. Pada abad ke 18, Immanuel Kant membuat sebuah teori dimana antar negara demokrasi tidak mungkin saling menyerang dan teori ini yang kemudian menjadi salah satu teori yang terdapat dalam perspektif Liberalisme klasik.

The figure of classical liberalism, Adam Smith, he emphasizes the freedom of having economic sectors (capitalism) that also close-related with Neoliberalism perspective as economic integration that create the independency among actors so that conflict can be prevented. It will bring the actors into a peace.

Tokoh Liberalisme Klasik yaitu Adam Smith yang menekankan pada kebebasan memiliki sektor ekonomi (kapitalisme) juga berkaitan erat dengan apa yang disebut dalam perspektif Neoliberalism sebagai economic integration yang berujung pada interdependence antar actor sehingga konflik antar actor dapat dicegah (preventive). Hal tersebut pada akhirnya akan menghasilkan perdamaian (peace).

The difference between these two perspectives is Classical Liberalism recognizes non-state actors such as IGO/NGO, Multinational Corporations (MNC), Mass Media (state actor as main actor), while Neoliberalism is focused on interaction among state actors (state-centric).

Perbedaan antara kedua perspektif tersebut adalah dimana Classical Liberalism mengakui actor-aktor non negara seperti IGO/NGO, Multinational Corporations (MNC), Mass Media (state actor as main actor) sedangkan Neoliberalism fokus pada interaksi antar state actors (state-centric).

The similarity and the difference between Classical Liberalism and Neoliberalism, both has the relations that cannot be separated. Classical Liberalism that emerged in the early of 16th century, it upholds the individual freedom that finally refers to the democratic principles (politics), this institution intercepting state actor aspirations in solving the problems (outcome). These two perspectives also same in seeing the world as anarchy, but in achieving perpetal peace, and the way that can be used is through diplomacy process (discussion) that was arranged in the structured-international regimes.

Selanjutnya persamaan dan perbedaan antara Liberalisme klasik dan Neoliberalisme, keduanya mempunyai ikatan yang tidak bisa dipisahkan. Liberalisme klasik yang timbul pada awal abad 16 mengagungkan kebebasan individu yang berujung pada prinsip Demokrasi (politik),dimana hal tersebut juga dirasakan dalam Neoliberalism khususnya international institution, dimana institusi tersebut menampung aspirasi state actor dalam menghasilkan solusi bersama (outcome). Kedua perspektif tersebut juga sependapat dalam memandang dunia yang anarki, namun dalam achieving perpetual peace, cata yang digunakan adalah melalui cooperation dan juga jika terjadi konflik maka harus diselesaikan melalui proses diplomasi (discussion) serta diatur dalam international regimes yang terstruktur.

Introduction to Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA CEPA) #Day1

bilateral relations
By: Riska Nurhayati - International Relations President University

Monday, March 7, 2016

 Indonesia is a significant economic and regional partner for Australia. Two-way trade in goods and services reached $14.9 billion in the 2013 calendar year, making Indonesia our 12th largest trading partner and 11th largest export market. Australian investment in Indonesia was worth an estimated $10.9 billion in 2013. Austrade estimates that there are more than 400 Australian companies operating in Indonesia, in sectors including mining, agriculture, construction, infrastructure, finance, health care, food and beverage and transport.[1] IA CEPA negotiations commenced in Jakarta in September 2012. It aims to strengthen and expand the trade, investment and economic cooperation relationship between Indonesia and Australia. It will help bring the region’s two largest economies closer together and will form a key part of Australia’s regional economic integration as part of the Asian Century.
Indonesia and Australia has started having closer cooperation in order to stimulate the solutions over the challenges and national security. The both countries were made the decision in enhancing the continuity of the common interests which stated on the “Pernyataan Bersama Maret 2010” to enhance the investment and bilateral trade between them two. The negotiations cover the cooperation of economy,  trade and investment that will give contribution more towards trade and investment close-relationship, equilibrate, and beneficial for each.
IA-CEPA negotiations have been two rounds of negotiations this far. The agreement is intended to free up impediments to bilateral trade and investment.[2] Indonesia is Australia’s twelfth largest trading partner (2013 calendar year)[3], produced;
-         -  $14.9 billion in two-way trade for goods and services in 2013
-         -  A$9 billion in imports from Indonesia
-         -  A$7 billion in exports to Indonesia

More than 250 Australian companies have a presence in Indonesia. Two-way investment between Australia and Indonesia was valued at $9.6 billion in 2014, with Australian in investment in Indonesia at $8.1 billion and Indonesia investment in Australia at $1.5 billion. Australia’s two-way trade with Indonesia was worth $14.8 billion in 2014-5, making Indonesia our 12th largest trade partner. Agricultural products (such as wheat, live animals and sugar) are Australia’s key merchandise exports to Indonesia, valued at $3.4 billion in 2014-15, while manufactured goods are key imports ($3.1 billion). Two-way trade in services was valued at $3.8 billion in 2014-15. Education is Australia’s key services export to Indonesia ($585 million) and tourism is our main services import from Indonesia (almost $2 billion).[4]

On 17 November 2015, Trade and Invesment Minister, Robb, announced the intention to reinvigorate negotiations towards the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA CEPA), to boost two-way trade and investment flows and provide a framework for closer economic cooperation.




[1] http://dfat.gov.au/trade/agreements/iacepa/Pages/indonesia-australia-comprehensive-economic-partnership-agreement.aspx
[2] http://asiasociety.org/australia/factsheet-australia-indonesia-relationship#
[3] Ibid.
[4] http://dfat.gov.au/geo/indonesia/Pages/indonesia-country-brief.aspx

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