TTLV: The Islamic Factor in US-Indonesia Relations 2001-2016

INFORMATION ABOUT THE MASTER'S THESIS

1. Student's full name:Trinh Thi Thuy Van            

2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: December 25, 1978

4. Place of birth: Thanh Hoa

5. Decision to recognize students No. 2811/2016/QD-XHNV-DT dated August 18, 2016, signed by the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in the training process: None.

7. Thesis title:The Islamic factor in US-Indonesia relations between 2001 and 2016.

8. Major: International Relations Code: 60.31.02.06

9. Scientific supervisor:Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, working at the Department of International Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

10. Summary of the thesis results:

This thesis has researched and clarified three main contents: the characteristics of Islam in Indonesia and US policy towards Islam from 2001-2016; issues related to Islam in US-Indonesia relations from 2001-2016; and trends in US policy towards Islam and its impact on US-Indonesia relations as well as on international relations.

Based on an overview of the characteristics of Islam in Indonesia and US policy towards Islam from 2001 to 2016, this thesis focuses on US policies towards Islam in Indonesia during this period, particularly the US approach of building a relationship with Indonesia as a model for relations between the US and other Muslim countries, and bilateral cooperation related to counter-terrorism and Islamic education aimed at reducing extremism within Islam in Indonesia. In addition, the thesis also addresses the trends in President Donald Trump's Islamic policy after more than a year in office and the reactions of other countries, including Indonesia, to assess the impact of these policies on international relations.

Numerous studies and articles have been written on the US counter-terrorism policy and the relationship between the US and Indonesia in the fight against terrorism and the expansion of democracy. However, no comprehensive study has been conducted on US-Indonesia relations concerning Islamic issues. This thesis has compiled and selectively incorporated these research findings, while also clarifying issues that have not been addressed or have not been addressed in depth, in order to highlight cooperation activities related to Islam between the US and Indonesia. The research results possess profound theoretical and practical value.

11. Practical applications:

This thesis has highlighted the impacts of US Islamic policies on US-Indonesia relations as well as on international relations. From the perspective of policy researchers, the thesis contributes to providing a scientific basis for evaluating the relationship between the US and the Islamic world, thereby determining the policies and priorities for cooperation between Vietnam and the US in the coming period, especially on religious issues.

12. Future research directions:

The Islamic world and the US relationship with it have always been a prominent feature of international politics. Meanwhile, Indonesia, as the world's largest Muslim-majority country, will continue to be a reliable partner for the US in Islamic cooperation and counter-terrorism efforts, especially given the recent setbacks in the Middle East, which have led extremist groups to seek refuge in Indonesia to expand their activities. Therefore, the Islamic relationship between the US and Indonesia, as well as Indonesia's role as a bridge in US Islamic policy, will be a fascinating and highly topical issue.

13. Published works related to the thesis:

INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS

1. Full name: Trinh Thi Thuy Van 2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: December 25, 1978 4. Place of birth: Thanh Hoa

5. Admission decision number: 2811/2016/QD-XHNV-DT dated August 18, 2016 signed by Principal of VNU University of Social Sciences and Mumanities.

6. Changes in academic process: None

7. Official thesis title: Islam Factor in America and Indonesia relations from 2001 to 2006

8. Major: International Relations Code: 60.31.02.06

9. Supervisors: Deputy Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, Associate Professor of Political Science and Senior Lecturer of Division of Faculty of International Studies, University of Social Sciences and Mumanities, Hanoi National University.

10. Summary of the findings of the thesis:

The thesis has focused on and clarified three main contents.: The Islamic characteristics in Indonesia and the US policy towards the Islam, period 2001 - 2016; Islamic related issues in the relations between US - Indonesia, period 2001 - 2016; The tendency of the US policy towards the Islam and its impact on the US - Indonesia relations and the International relations as well.

By generalizing the Islamic characteristics in Indonesia and the US policy towards the Islam, period 2001 - 2016, the thesis puts its focus on the US policy towards the Islam, period 2001 - 2016, specifically the US policy in building its relation with Indonesia as a model for the country's relations with other Islamic countries as well as the billateral cooperations for anti-terrorism and education, aiming at minimizing the Islam's extremism in Indonesia. Besides, the thesis also mentioned the tendency in the Islamic policy of President Donald Trump after more than one year in office, reaction of other countries and Indonesia to the policy, from that giving the evaluation about the impact of the policy toward the international relations.

Much of works, writings and studies have been mentioned the US anti-terrorism, the US - Indonesia relations in anti-terrorism war and democracy expansion. However, not much of those has a comprehensive research on the US - Indonesia relation in the context of Islamic-related issues. The thesis, by summerizing and selectively adopting the findings of the previous studies, while adding its own findings on unmetioned issues, has highlighted the cooperation of Islamic-related issue between the US and Indonesia. The thesis findings are of both theoritical and practical value.

11. Practical applicability, if any:

The thesis has been successfully indicating the impacts of the U.S.'s Islamic policy over the US - Indonesia relationship and other international relations as well. From the policy researchers view points, it also contributes to providing the scientific basis for the evaluation of the relations between the US and Islamic world, thus helping identify the policy and co-operation fields of priority between Vietnam and the US in the coming time, especialy in religion issue.

12. Further research directions, if any:

The Islamic world and its relations with the US have been always present in the international political life. Indonesia, as the world largest Islamic state, will continue to be the US trust partner in Islamic co-operation and anti-terorism, especially in the context when the Islamic exchemists tend to swift their operation to the country after the defeats in the Middle East. The Islamic relations between US - Indonesia as well as Indonesia's connecting role in the U.S.'s Islamic policy will be, therefore, remaining a topic of interest as well as a topical question.

13. Thesis-related publications: