Expert: US-Israel Attack on Iran Threatens Global Democratic Order
The brutal and deadly assault by Israel and the United States on Iran on Saturday, 28 February, sent shockwaves through the world.
The escalation of armed conflict between the United States and Israel against Iran signals a grave challenge to global democratic order in an era characterised by VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity). Constitutional law expert Radian Syam argues that the Israel, US-Iran conflict tests whether the world remains anchored in the rule of law or is shifting towards domination by force.
In his latest book titled “Navigating Democracy in the VUCA Era” (2025), Radian emphasises that Middle Eastern geopolitical tensions are not merely regional conflict but a systemic threat capable of triggering global ripple effects across the energy sector and economic stability.
“When norms are respected, law becomes an anchor for order. However, when norms are interpreted unilaterally, the logic of power strengthens,” Radian stated on Monday, 2 March 2026.
Radian underscores the importance of a consistent international legal framework. He notes that claims of self-defence or national security in military operations often occupy a grey area between legal legitimacy and strategic calculation.
According to him, sovereignty in modern international law is not merely about rights but responsibility to adhere to humanitarian law and principles of human rights.
“History shows that lasting peace is not the result of force alone, but of shared normative agreement. The rule of law is the moral compass to keep the vessel of democracy from capsising in the storm of geopolitical turbulence,” he said.
For Indonesia, this dynamic presents an opportunity to reinforce its free and active foreign policy principle. Radian contends that active non-alignment is not passive neutrality but an independent, constructive position in promoting peaceful dialogue.
He warns that if the world moves towards a power-based order, developing nations risk becoming mere arenas for global power competition. Therefore, strengthening multilateralism has become an urgent necessity in line with Indonesia’s constitutional mandate to maintain world order.
“Resilient democracy is not one free from pressure, but one able to maintain legal principles amid global uncertainty,” Radian concluded.