Muhammad A. S. Hikam

Keynote Address for IR/PS 20th Anniversary Luncheon (PDF)

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Hikam has been a senior advisor of a Jakarta-based consulting firm, Kiroyan Kuhon Partners, specializing in the fields of government affairs, security issues, strategic communications, and legislations on political reforms and security issues. Previously, he was appointed as the state minister for research and technology, Republic of Indonesia, (1999-2001); chairman of the Agency for Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) (1999-2001); member of the House of Representatives, Republic of  Indonesia (DPR-RI) (2004-2007); and senior research fellow at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences’ Center for Economics and Development (PEP-LIPI) (1984-2001). In his capacity as a state minister he was also the chair of the National Research Council (DRN), the Eastern Indonesian Development Council (DKTI), and member of the National Coordination of Telematics Team. Currently, Hikam has been an active member of the National Atomic Energy Board’s Expert Group for Nuclear Energy (KATN-BATAN) and teaching at Gadjah Mada University (Yogyakarta), Satyagama University (Jakarta), the Institute for Indonesian Banking Development (Jakarta), as well as a guest lecturer at the School for National Intelligence (Jakarta). His primary interests in the academic field have been on political reforms, social and cultural changes, civil society empowerment, national security, and globalization.

Born in Tuban, a small town in the East Java province in 1958, he received his undergraduate degree (BA) from Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta (1981), majoring in Arabic literature (BA), and, following his academic pursuits, graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, with MA in communications (1987), MA in political science (1994), and PhD in political science (1995). As a scholar and researcher, he has published books and numerous articles both in scientific journals and printed media since 1984. Among his nationally acclaimed books have been Demokrasi dan Civil Society (Democracy and Civil Society, 1997); Politik Kewarganegaraan; Landasan Redemokratisasi di Indonesia (Citizenship Politics: The Foundation od Redemocratization in Indonesia, 1999); and Islam, Demokratisasi dan Pemberdayaan Civil Society (Islam, Democratization and Civil Society Empowerment, 2000). His pioneering studies and research on Indonesian civil society and democratization have had a strong influence both within academia and the democratic movements in the country since the late 1990s. One of his media articles won a national award from the Indonesian Journalist Association (PWI) in 1996.

Hikam’s academic interest has always been intertwined with advocacy work and social activism. Having been raised in a family that emphasizes the importance of social solidarity and  work ethics, Hikam has been close with some NGOs that work for strengthening democratic values and practices. He had been actively participating in their seminars, advocacy and public policy related activities which evidently have  tremendous contributions when he  decided to enter politics after he left the State Ministry office. Hikam  joined the National Awakening Party (PKB) in 2001 and was co-Chair in the party’s Central Board (2001-2005). From 2004-2007 he represented the party in the House of Representatives (DPR). During his tenure at the House, he was the Chair of the House’s Legislation Board (2004-2005), and the Deputy coordinator of the House’s Commission I for Foreign Affairs (2004-2007), as well as member of the House’s Inter Parliamentary Cooperation Board (2006). He was involved in several important legislative reforms, including the House’s Standing Order reform, the Bill on Freedom of Information Act, the Ratification of Human Rights’ Two Covenants of Political Rights and of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the Bill on National Cyber Law. He was also actively engaging in several caucuses in the House, including the ASEAN Inter Parliamentary Caucus on Myanmar (AIPMC), the ASEAN Inter Parliamentary Caucus on Good Governance (AICGG), the Caucus on Indonesian Broadcasting (KPI), and the Caucus on Freedom of Information (KKMIP).