Several academic studies have given birth to the notion that natural disasters and conflicts have a close relationship. Under certain conditions, the disaster functions to bring peace in conflict areas. However, it has not explained how the peace process can affect the dynamics of conflict. This paper aims to analyze the factors that cause conflict in a disaster area to transform into peace or vice versa. The prolonged social conflicts in the Indonesian provinces of Aceh (1976–2005) and Sri Lanka (1983–2009) are examples of cases where the tsunami disaster in December 2004 led to a peace agreement in Aceh, which was not long in the future while failing to bring peace to Sri Lanka. The research conduct with descriptive qualitative methods and internet-based literature study techniques. This paper finds that disaster is a catalyst for the peace process, not determining peace. The transformation of conflict into peace influence by four factors: poverty, state capacity, negotiations, and internationalization of conflicts. These factors that can create peace also depend much on pre-disaster and post-disaster peace efforts.

Diplomasi publik merupakan instrumen pencapaian kepentingan negara yang populer digunakan, dimana Republic of Korea merupakan salah satu contoh negara yang menggunakan diplomasi publik dengan Korean wave menjadi salah satu medianya. Diplomasi publik Korean wave meraih kesuksesannya di Indonesia secara umum dan kota Padang secara khusus. Tulisan ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan pencapaian kepentingan negara melalui pelaksanaan diplomasi publik yang  melibatkan banyak aktor swasta/private. Penulis menggunakan  metode survei ke sepuluh universitas yang ada di kota Padang untuk mengetahui pencapaian kepentingan negara ini di kota Padang. Tulisan ini menemukan bahwa walaupun diplomasi publik ini berhasil dalam meningkatkan popularitas Republic of Korea, tetapi kepentingan yang ingin dicapai seperti tersosialisasikannya kebijakan pemerintah dan penciptaan image  RoK yang cinta damai dan attractive belum berhasil tercapai sepenuhnya, karena ketertarikan kepada budaya populer yang ditawarkan ternyata tidak berhasil untuk menarik pemuda kota Padang untuk lebih lanjut mempelajari kebijakan-kebijakan pemerintah dan membangun image yang diinginkan oleh pemerintah. Kata kunci : Diplomasi Publik, Korean wave, image, budaya populer, Padang

The Minangkabau ethnic group is still the largest matrilineal society in the world. Past research on this ethnicity are mainly centralized on the concept of merantau (migration), on its adaptation after the enter of Islam, and on the gender role and position in Minangkabau society. This research aims to highlight the contribution of the Minangkabau matrilineal system to the local development of West Sumatra, specifically the gender equality goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); and to what extent if it were present. This research employed qualitative method, and data were collected through literature study and interview with national and local NGOs working in the field of women and development. This research discovered that theoretically, the Minangkabau matrilineal values can and should stimulate the gender equality SDGs achievement in West Sumatra. However, in reality, gender inequality still exists in West Sumatra with several SGD targets having wider gaps compared to other patrilineal societies in Indonesia. This research argues that by not wholly implementing the matrilineal values, the West Sumatran Minangkabau people has indirectly restrained themselves from achieving gender equality in the region, specifically related to violence and discrimination against women, also active participation of women in the economy and politics.

The purpose of writing this article is to describe the improvement in student learning outcomes after using vlog (video blogging) as a learning instrument in the Introduction to International Relations Course. The study of International Relations is often considered as a study separate from the society's daily lives in developing countries. Vlog is used as a means to ground the study of International Relations in Indonesia, especially in West Sumatra and Padang. This type of research is based on classroom action using the 4D (Four D) development model learning device. This study was designed with four stages of development, which are defining, planning, developing and distributing. This subject of this research was the second semester students (year 2018) with a total of 87 people. Data collection is conducted through the method of observation. The results described that the learning process using vlog can stimulate the active participation of students in th Al Maghvirah Chane-learning process and develop a more enjoyable classroom atmosphere. Through the application of performance assessment methods, there was an increase in the percentage of student learning outcomes in the Introduction to International Relations Course.

The majority of studies which associates conflict and natural disasters reveals that there is a strong correlation between natural disasters and conflict. Natural disasters are believed to be a catalyst for peacemaking, although they are not the only determining factors that influence conflict and peace. On one hand, disasters can reduce conflict escalation and bringpeace, while on the other hand, they tend to escalate and exacerbate conflict conflicts from previous conditions. This can be seen in the case of Aceh in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, regions that are both experiencing intra-state conflicts, which have different experiences after the disaster. This article attempts to provide a conceptual framework to explain the conditions of conflict escalation and de-escalation after natural disasters. Through a study of various literatures, this paper discovered that there are at least four variables, namely natural resource variables, poverty rates, state regulations, and negotiations that affect conflict tendencies in disaster areas.