Makassar, May 7, 2025 — The Thematic Research Group (TRG) on Peace, Conflict, and Democracy at Hasanuddin University has officially begun its research journey with an inaugural meeting held on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. The meeting took place in the dedicated meeting room of the Center for Peace, Conflict, and Democracy, LPPM, Hasanuddin Univesity.
The session was chaired by Prof. Dr. Dwia Aries Tina Pulubuhu, MA, a senior academic and the head of the Peace, Conflict, and Democracy research team. In attendance were fellow researchers and faculty members involved in the project — a multidisciplinary team composed of lecturers and experts with diverse backgrounds in social sciences, political studies, and peace research.
The primary agenda of the meeting was to discuss the preparation phase of a collaborative research project that will examine community participation in conflict resolution processes in Indonesia and Malaysia. This study aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of how grassroots involvement can shape outcomes in conflict-prone areas and enhance sustainable peace in the region.
During the discussion, participants outlined a comprehensive research plan, focusing on three main areas:
- The logistical and technical preparation for fieldwork;
- The development of a detailed timeline for each phase of the study;
- The methodological depth required to capture nuanced insights into community-based conflict resolution practices.
The meeting highlighted the importance of contextual understanding when analyzing conflict resolution strategies. With Indonesia and Malaysia offering different socio-political landscapes, the study is expected to reveal comparative insights and identify both challenges and best practices in community engagement.
In the next stage of the project, the Hasanuddin University TRG team will coordinate with Dr. Muhammad Febriansyah, a research collaborator from Universiti Sains Malaysia, to further refine the data collection process. A bilateral meeting is being scheduled to align research tools, share methodologies, and ensure coherent implementation of the fieldwork in both countries.
This cross-national research initiative is part of Hasanuddin University’s broader commitment to fostering academic collaboration and producing impactful knowledge that supports peacebuilding, conflict transformation, and democratic governance in Southeast Asia. By exploring the role of communities in peace processes, the team hopes to offer practical recommendations that can inform policy and empower local actors involved in conflict mediation.
The research is expected to begin its field phase in the coming months, with findings to be shared through academic publications, policy briefs, and stakeholder forums in both Indonesia and Malaysia.
