Exploring International Dynamics: The Bachelor of History Faculty of Humanities, Udayana University Held Area Studies Workshop

• Posted by: Admin
• Senin, 3 Agustus 2026
• Has been read 30 time(s)

Denpasar – The Bachelor of History, Faculty of Humanities, Udayana University held an Area Studies Workshop entitled “Area Studies: Concepts, Strategies, and Understanding International Relations for a Better Future,” which was conducted in a hybrid format on Monday (3/8). Taking place in the Dr. Ir. Soekarno Meeting Room, 4th Floor of the Poerbatjaraka Building, the workshop was attended by Deane representatives, lecturers, and students from the Bachelor ofof History as proactive commitment to deepen the understanding of area studies. The workshop invited several cross-institutional experts, including Prof. Dr. Sudarman, S.Hum., M.A. from the State Islamic University (UIN) Imam Bonjol Padang, Prof. Dr. Ekmel Geçer from Marmara University, Türkiye, and Prof. Dr. phil. I Ketut Ardhana, M.A. from Udayana University.

Commencing the event, the Coordinator of Bachelor of History, Prof. Dr. phil. I Ketut Ardhana, M.A., expressed his hope that this workshop would enrich the analytical perspectives of the academic community through a comprehensive and comparative approach in responding to global dynamics. In line with this, the Dean of Faculty of Humanities Udayana University, Prof. I Nyoman Aryawibawa, S.S., M.A., Ph.D. officially opened the event. He expressed his highest appreciation for the presence of the international experts. He also emphasized that area studies hold a crucial urgency as they offer a holistic perspective that encompasses the intersections of history, language, culture, and politics, serving as a tangible manifestation of capacity-building efforts for students, lecturers, and the institution moving forward.

The main presentation session, area studies were initially dissected through the lens of Nusantara's maritime history. Through a presentation entitled "The Cradle of Malay Civilization: A Historical-Anthropological Study of the Cultural Connectivity of Minangkabau and the Malay Peninsula," Prof. Dr. Sudarman, S.Hum., M.A. discussed the origins of Malay civilization and the close relationship between Minangkabau and the Malay Peninsula. He explained that Nusantara civilization was shaped by the arrival waves of the Proto-Malays in the inland areas and the Deutero-Malays in the coastal areas, which were later enriched by Indian, Persian, Chinese, and European cultural currents. The spread of this culture was driven by the Minangkabau people's tradition of merantau (migration) since the late 17th century. In this context, the Malacca Strait played a vital role as a highway of civilization, proving that the Malay identity was formed from a dynamic maritime network.

Complementing this historical overview, the discussion shifted to the importance of social connectivity through a psychological approach. Delivering a presentation entitled "Finding Flourishing in Community: Cultural Values and Psycho-Social Well-Being in Turkish Collectivism," Prof. Dr. Ekmel Geçer highlighted the urgency of collective psychological well-being. He emphasized that human happiness heavily depends on the quality of their social relationships. A supportive and psychologically safe environment is highly needed, ranging from the family to the state level. Various studies have proven that strong social bonds and the habit of helping one another can reduce stress and prolong life expectancy. To face the challenges of today's digital era, he also suggested that parents limit their children's gadget use and prioritize real-life interactions based on empathy.

The understanding of societal dynamics was then expanded into the context of the global world order by observing the development of multiculturalism in Europe. Through a presentation titled "European Area Studies: Understanding multicultural societies in the context of enhancing human well-being and dignity," Prof. Dr. phil. I Ketut Ardhana, M.A. reiterated the importance of the Area Studies discipline in mapping international political situations. Based on his research findings, he highlighted the challenges of multiculturalism in Germany, which were heavily influenced by the high influx of migrant workers from Türkiye since 1961. Prof. Ardhana then compared the characteristics of multicultural societies in European countries with the conditions of harmony in Southeast Asia. He concluded that a comprehensive understanding of European history is a vital key for the academic community to analyze various social issues currently affecting the world.

The series of presentations from the three speakers successfully sparked high enthusiasm among the participants. This was evident during the interactive discussion session, where representatives of lecturers and students posed various critical questions regarding the history of Nusantara's maritime trade, the challenges of parenting in the digital era, to the historical relevance of European studies in responding to contemporary global conflicts. The Area Studies Workshop was then concluded with the presentation of certificates of appreciation to the three experts for their academic contributions.

Through the implementation of this workshop, the Department of History FIB Unud hopes that the discourse on area studies does not merely stop at the theoretical level within the classroom. This activity is expected to produce young scholars who are not only critical in dissecting history but also possess adequate empathetic sensitivity and cross-cultural insights in responding to the dynamics of global politics. Moving forward, this holistic perspective is believed to be a crucial asset for the academic community in contributing to the building of a better civilization and global social order.