Malang (ANTARA) - Geopolitical and media expert Yusuf R. Hakim stated\nthat the paradigm of national defence has undergone a significant shift\nand transformation. \u201cIn the past, a nation\u2019s strength was determined by\nits control of land, sea, and air. Today, the world has entered a new\nera where cyberspace has become a decisive strategic domain,\u201d Yusuf said\nduring a public discussion titled \u2018Development of Global and National\nDynamics from Various Perspectives\u2019 held at a cafe in Malang City, East\nJava, on Wednesday evening.<\/p>\n
He explained that modern states are now moving to dominate the cyber\nworld. A fourth dimension has emerged as a crucial new force: mass media\nand the digital space. \u201cOur main threat today actually begins in the\ngeo-economic sector, not directly from the military,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
According to Yusuf, modern warfare does not always manifest as armed\nattacks. Control of information, manipulation of public opinion, and the\nspread of disinformation have become new instruments capable of\ninfluencing a nation\u2019s social and political stability. The dominance of\nmainstream media as the primary source of information for the public has\nshifted. Based on developing trends, around 70 percent of the public now\nconsumes information through social media.<\/p>\n
He noted that this condition presents serious challenges, as digital\nalgorithms can systematically shape societal polarisation. Yusuf cited\npolitical phenomena that have developed in Indonesia, where certain\nlabels emerged and were subsequently perpetuated by social media\nalgorithms. \u201cThese algorithms filter and categorise society to\nfacilitate the delivery of specific messages. The danger is that anger\nand negative sentiments are deliberately processed and produced in the\nvirtual world, then drawn into real life. This is something we must all\nbe wary of,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He stressed the importance of critical thinking skills amidst the\ntorrent of digital information. \u201cIndonesia does not lack intelligent\npeople, but we desperately need people who remain critical and realistic\nthinkers,\u201d he remarked.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Penta Peturun, a Staff Expert at the Ministry of Law and\nHuman Rights, highlighted Indonesia\u2019s position in the global arena. He\nstated that Indonesia is a large country with abundant natural resources\nand a huge domestic market, making it a focus of attention in global\ncompetition. \u201cIn the global context, anything can happen. Therefore, we\nmust be smart and perceptive in reading and positioning Indonesia amidst\nthe intense dynamics of global politics,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He emphasised that current global challenges require society,\nespecially the younger generation, to have a strong national outlook and\nthe ability to understand global changes objectively.<\/p>\n
Hasan Husaini, the East Java Regional Coordinator for PTNU from\nTuban, assessed that students must understand issues thoroughly before\ntaking a stance or initiating social movements. \u201cWe must first\nunderstand the problem before making a move. Students need to engage in\ndiscussions, nurture democracy, and comprehend both global and national\ndynamics so that the movements they create truly provide solutions,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He expressed hope that such discussion forums would continue to be\nheld as a means of political and national education for the younger\ngeneration. Intan, a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs\nfrom the Student Executive Board (BEM) of the Islamic University of\nMalang (Unisma), admitted to gaining many new perspectives from the\ndiscussion. \u201cStudents are not only required to understand information\nbut also to evaluate themselves and think about how to contribute to the\ncountry in the future,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Through the discussion, participants were reminded that threats to\nthe nation do not always come in the form of physical conflict. Control\nof information, economic resilience, and the public\u2019s ability to filter\ninformation are crucial elements in maintaining Indonesia\u2019s sovereignty\nin the digital era. Critical thinking, a comprehensive understanding of\nissues, and maintaining a healthy space for dialogue are key assets in\nfacing increasingly complex global dynamics.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/expert-national-defence-paradigm-undergoes-major-transformation-1781715105", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }