About Me

 

 

Rafyoga is a lecturer and head of laboratory at the Department of International Relations, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta. He was an Embassy-recommended Monbukagakusho (MEXT) Scholar at Graduate School ofInternational Cooperation Studies, Kobe University in Japan, where he was awarded Master of International Studies (M.I.S in 2021) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D in 2024). His main research areas are Japanese politics & foreign policy, and security studies. He has published his research on Japan’s foreign policy in various international platforms and journals, such as The Diplomat, Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs (SAGE Journals), Asian Politics & Policy (Wiley Publisher), and Asian Journal of Political Science (Routledge - Taylor & Francis). He was also the awardee of Japan-Related Research Grant from The Sumitomo Foundation in 2025. 

Research 

My current research interest is International Relations and Security in Asia-Pacific, in particular about Japan's maritime security policies and cooperation in Southeast Asia. 

Contact

Are there things to discuss further, feel free to reach me at irsadanar (dot) rafyoga (at) gmail (dot) com. I am also an active user of LinkedIn and I also tweet. 

Writings

• Peer-reviewed Academic Journals 
  

Irsadanar, R. J., & Kimura, K. (2026). The ideational implications of Japan-Indonesia maritime security cooperation: trust, capacity building, and shared values. Asian Journal of Political Science, 1-27. 

 

Irsadanar, R. J. (2024). Party politics and foreign policy: The Liberal Democratic Party in Japan's security policy expansion in Southeast Asia. Asian Politics and Policy, 1-22

 

Irsadanar, R. J. (2023). Japan and Indonesia as Middle Powers in Indo-Pacific: Towards AOIP – FOIP Synergy. Jurnal Hubungan Luar Negeri, 1-15

 

 

Irsadanar, R.J. (2023). Japan's Security Policy Expansion in Southeast Asia during the Abe Administration : Case of Japan - Indonesia Security Cooperation. Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs, 10(2), 190-222. 

 

Irsadanar, R. J. (2023). Indonesia's South China Sea Policy under Joko Widodo: Building Credibility in Indo-Pacific Geostrategic Circuit. Jurnal Hubungan Internasional,  12(1), 25-36.

 

Irsadanar, R. J., & Kimura, K. (2021). Japan-China 2008 Agreement: Common-Pool Resource Governance Problem. Jurnal Studi Pemerintahan, 193-211.

Irsadanar, R. J. (2021). Japan’s South China Sea Policy and Regional Subcomplex Expansion: Toward Free and Open Indo-Pacific. Jurnal Hubungan Internasional, 9(2), 128-138.

 

Badruzaman, I., & Irsadanar, R. J. (2020). ASEAN Way in Korean Peninsula Peacebuilding.     Indonesian Journal of Peace and Security Studies, 16-30.

Irsadanar, R., & Warsito, T. (2018). Japan Military Export Ban Lift in 2014 Under Shinzo Abe Administration. Intermestic: Journal Of International Studies, 3(1), 77-99. 

 

• Media Articles
  

Japan's Defence Budget Hike under Kishida : Possibilities and Challenges. Centre for Strategic and Contemporary Research. 26 January 2023. 

Can Indonesia Deliver the Goods?. International Policy Digest. 11 November 2o22.  

Can Japan Be a Bridge Between ASEAN and AUKUS?. The Diplomat. 26 October 2021. 

 

Kishida and Japan-Indonesia Security Relations: The Prospects.  Modern Diplomacy. 14 October 2021. 

 

Indonesia-Japan Advancing Security and Defense Cooperation: Promoting Democracy in Indo-Pacific Waters. THC Insights by The Habibie Center. 1 July 2021. 

 

Peningkatan Kerjasama Keamanan dan Pertahanan Indonesia-Jepang : Mempromosikan Demokrasi di Perairan Indo-Pasifik. THC Insights by The Habibie Center. 1 July 2021.

 

A Critical Security Analysis of Indonesia’s COVID-19 Responses: Is the State A Security Provider or Threat?. Strengthening Human Rights and Peace Research and Education in ASEAN /Southeast Asia (SHAPE-SEA). 21 August 2020. 

 

 Making the Best out of your Research Internship : 3 Tips. Asia-Pacific Youth Service. 15 June 2020. 

 

 Indonesian "People's Total Defense" Against Coronavirus. ASEAN Studies Center Universitas Gadjah Mada. 21 May 2020. (Co-authored)

 

 Japan's Free Vessels to Natuna: Is It Really Free?. ASEAN Studies Center Universitas Gadjah Mada. 1 April 2020. 

 

 Panmunjom Agreement: Role of ASEAN Behind the Pacified Peninsula. ASEAN Studies Center Universitas Gadjah Mada. 1 September 2018.