Good Governance Strategy in Maintaining the National Interest of State Defense: A Study in the North Natuna Sea Region

Abstract

Good governance has become a popular term for influencing public sector reform in many countries. As a new government theory, governance with a good governance strategy has also received significant attention from the scientific community. Scholars have different perspectives when discussing the topic of good governance. The political perspective examines the ideal governance, especially in terms of state defense. As a maritime country, Indonesia is certainly not free from problems that threaten state defense from the marine sector. After the unilateral claim to the North Natuna Sea from China with its nine-dash line (NDL), the Indonesian government then strengthened its defense strategy in the North Natuna Sea area. This step has its own risks for both Indonesia and the region, so the Indonesian government needs to make efforts to strengthen the state defense sector. This study tries to fill the gaps in thinking about good governance strategies in addressing the potential threat to the North Natuna Sea by reviewing journal articles on good governance in an effort to address the North Natuna Sea area, which are published in national journals. This study uses a descriptive analytical method using the theory of national interest and the concept of good governance to bring up an explanation of how the policy between the soft approach and hard approach is carried out by the Indonesian government i in managing potential conflict in the South China Sea which will impact the North Natuna Sea region. The study of good governance includes the coordination and cooperation between the central government and the local government of Riau Islands Province, where the North Natuna Sea is located, particularly how this local government performs in fulfilling its population's needs, in line with the central government policy. This study also develops from important issues related to state defense, where in an effort to maintain state defense through the South China Sea, the state takes a diplomatic approach from the aspect of military strength (hard power) and non-military (soft power). Certainly, this study acknowledges its weaknesses and suggests future research.

Keywords

• national interest, good governance strategy
• literature review, state defense
• north natuna sea