Student Profile

Sartika Soesilowati, BA (Gadjah Mada University), MA (ANU)

Sartika started her PhD in 2005. Her thesis examines the nature of cooperation within the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), specifically examining the prospects of that institution transforming into a 'security community'. The intent is to analyse the relevance and feasibility of preserving sovereign prerogatives within a framework of regional cooperation. The study argues that in building a security community that can succeed in Southeast Asia, ASEAN states will need to accept that the individual sovereignty of each member-state must be modified in such a way as to allow problematic transnational issues (i.e. maritime security, terrorism) to become more accountable to collective regional decision-making and action.

Her main interest lies in the area of theory of international relations, regionalism, security, sovereignty and Southeast Asian region. In 2006, Sartika spent four months conducting fieldwork in Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. Before starting her PhD, Sartika was a lecturer at the Department of International Relations, Airlangga Unversity, Indonesia since 1995.

Sartika submitted her thesis in June 2009.

Email : sartika.soesilowati@anu.edu.au