In recent years, Indonesia\u2019s public sphere has been filled with the\nemergence of young politicians and influencers who speak loudly about\nthe Middle East without a strong data foundation\u2014particularly primary\ndata\u2014and often relying solely on fleeting information from social media\nstreams. With confident rhetorical styles and narratives that touch\ncollective emotions, they appear as if they possess scholarly\nauthority.<\/p>\n
This phenomenon may seem at first glance like a healthy form of\npublic participation, but behind it lies a deeply serious problem\u2014the\nbirth of an illusion of expertise rooted in an epistemic crisis in our\npublic discourse.<\/p>\n
The phenomenon of politicians and influencers speaking as if they\n\u201cfully understand geopolitical issues and Middle Eastern conflicts\u201d\ndespite lacking adequate scholarly foundations indicates signs of\npersonal ethical problems. Not only that, it has developed into a\nstructural problem in the production of knowledge in the public\nsphere.<\/p>\n
In the Indonesian context, this issue becomes even more complex\nbecause Middle Eastern issues often intersect with religion, identity,\nand collective emotions. As a result, the narratives that emerge no\nlonger stem from rational analysis but from the mobilisation of\nsentiments.<\/p>\n
The Instant Expert Syndrome in Understanding the Middle East<\/p>\n
Yet, the Middle East is not a simple entity that can be understood\nthrough a black-and-white lens. This region is a complex historical and\ngeopolitical space, with roots traceable back to the collapse of the\nOttoman Caliphate and colonial geopolitical engineering through the\nSykes-Picot Agreement. From there emerged modern states with political\nboundaries that often do not reflect the social realities on the\nground.<\/p>\n
This complexity continues to this day, particularly in contemporary\nconflicts such as the Israel-Palestine conflict, the war in Syria, and\ngeopolitical rivalries between regional states. Understanding these\ndynamics requires serious analytical tools. These include the history of\ncolonialism, energy politics, sectarian rivalries, and interventions by\nmajor powers such as the United States and Russia.<\/p>\n
However, what occurs in Indonesia\u2019s public sphere is the opposite.\nMany politicians and influencers reduce this complexity to simple\nnarratives that narrow its meaning. For example, \u201cIslam versus the\nWest\u201d, \u201coppression versus resistance\u201d, or \u201cglobal conspiracy\u201d. Such\nnarratives not only simplify reality but also obscure the fact that\nconflicts in the Middle East involve various actors with clashing\ninterests\u2014from regional organisations like the Arab League to rivalries\nbetween Iran and Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
It is at this point that we witness the emergence of what can be\ncalled the instant expert syndrome. The proliferation of \u201cinstant\nexperts\u201d cannot be separated from the logic of fast-paced digital media.\nIn this ecosystem, speed is often valued more than accuracy.<\/p>\n
With just reading a few popular articles or following viral trends on\nsocial media, someone feels sufficiently legitimised to provide\ngeopolitical analysis.<\/p>\n
Yet, in the disciplines of International Relations or Middle Eastern\nstudies, understanding is not built instantly but requires a long\nprocess, such as reading primary sources, understanding local languages,\nand mastering theoretical frameworks in geopolitical and international\nrelations discourse, from realism and constructivism to\npostcolonialism.<\/p>\n
Criticism of this phenomenon was once raised by Bagus Muljadi, who\nemphasised that academics are not \u201cshamans\u201d who can speak without data\nand methodology. Ironically, in our public sphere, those without\nscholarly backgrounds often appear more confident than academics who\nhave truly delved into the field.<\/p>\n
This confidence does not stem from depth of knowledge but from the\nlogic of social media that prioritises speed and boldness in\nopinion.<\/p>\n
The Politicisation of Middle Eastern Issues and the Crisis of\nKnowledge Authority<\/p>\n
Behind this phenomenon lies another equally important factor: the\nattention economy. Middle Eastern issues\u2014especially those related to\nPalestine\u2014have very high mobilising power in Indonesia. These issues\ntouch on emotional aspects as well as religious identity. In electoral\npolitics, this becomes a very enticing opportunity. Politicians exploit\nit to boost electability, while influencers turn it into content that\ndrives engagement.<\/p>\n
In such situations, accuracy is often sacrificed for virality.\nNarratives are simplified to be easily digestible, emotions are\namplified to trigger reactions easily, and facts are selectively chosen\nto fit certain agendas. The Middle East, which should be the subject of\nserious study, becomes a commodity in the attention industry.<\/p>\n
The impact of this phenomenon does not stop at the discourse level.\nIt creates what can be called structural disinformation. A public\nlacking adequate geopolitical literacy will absorb biased, even\nincorrect, information. In the long term, this shapes public opinion not\nbased on reality. Yet, public opinion has a significant influence on\npolicy directions, including foreign policy.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, since the Sukarno era, has been known for its active\nforeign policy tradition based on principles. This approach demands the\nability to read global dynamics carefully and rationally. However, when\nthe public sphere is filled with shallow analyses, the pressure on\npolicymakers becomes irrational. Politicians are pushed to take popular\npositions rather than strategic ones.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, the simplification of the Middle East also has the\npotential to erase the agency of local actors in the region. The\nconflict in Syria, for example, cannot simply be read as a struggle\nbetween \u201cthe people versus the regime\u201d but involves multiple actors.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-illusion-of-expertise-and-the-epistemic-crisis-in-understanding-the-middle-east-1774014680", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }