Globalisation creates changes at the national level and also in the international system. The concept of state along with its national interest are challenged by globalisation process. As a significant part of foreign policy, the national interest concept needs an adjustment in this modern era. The emergence of non-state actors also contribute to the transformation of global community. The large number of states integrate in international or regional organisations cause a tension between national interest and collective interest of a state. Therefore, this article suggests that a state needs to reconsider its concept of national interest since there are many changes occur in the globalised international system. The “old ideas of national interest” proposed by realists could be irrelevant in the today’s world.

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The Covid-19 pandemic has had major implications for government administration. Policymakers set policies for handling Covid-19 as a priority agenda at this time. However, these measures have reduced other problems such as stunting which still requires government attention. This article explores policy management of stunting by the local government amid the Covid-19 pandemic with the West Sumatra province case. The findings in the field, show that the implementation of stunting prevention policies is not easy considering the powerlessness caused by budget refocusing and overlapping authorities between institutions. Meanwhile, the meaninglessness is indicated by the low level of public support for the handling of stunting. This is exacerbated by a bureaucratic culture that is slow to implement policies, including in managing stunting-related programs during the Covid-19 crisis. So that there is alienation or what we call as alienation in the bureaucracy in implementing stunting prevention policies. In the end, the management of stunting policies during the Covid-19 pandemic should receive strong support from all involved parties.

Governance has become an interesting field of study in public administration. The shifting of authority from central government to local government and even to village level becomes a challenge as well as an opportunity for bureaucrats to provide community services. It justifies why understanding of ideal and relevant governance is needed to solve current problems. As a bureaucracy aiming to serve the community, Nagari is expected to be able fulfilling the society’s needs. Based on this condition, this initiative was conducted in Nagari Talang Anau, Kecamatan Gunuang Omeh, 50 Kota Regency, West Sumatera Province to solve the problems of limited understanding of local government employees regarding state administration (government). To achieve this goal, the program began by contacting and making confirmation with Wali Nagari and then followed by training and socialization regarding state administration system (government), public policy formulation in Nagari, and community services. The result indicated that there were several problems in Nagari Talang Anau administration, such as limited access to information and technology sector, lack of programs by Lembaga Pemberdayaan Masyarakat (LPM) and insufficient human resources. Based on these problems, the authors and the team members suggested that Nagari administration should focus more on the issue of improving the quality of human resources.