The Significance of Indonesia-Malaysia Gendered Counterterrorism Cooperation: Challenges and Opportunities

¹ Department of International Relations, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, UPN “Veteran” Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
² Department of International Relations, International Relations, (VK7) Faculty of Law and International Relations, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Terengganu, Malaysia

^* Corresponding author: meilisa0982@gmail.com

Abstract

This paper examines the significance of gendered counterterrorism cooperation between Indonesia and Malaysia. The rising threat of female terrorism in both countries underscores the urgent need for a gendered approach to counterterrorism efforts. This research uses a qualitative approach by conducting in-depth interviews with government officials, civil society organisations, and former female ISIS sympathisers. This article is divided into explanations in the form of a significant gap in existing counterterrorism strategies, particularly regarding gender and explains the gender exploitation of female ISIS sympathisers. The findings underscore the urgent need for a gender-sensitive approach to address the root causes of female involvement in terrorism effectively and to prevent future radicalisation. In conclusion, the findings also highlight the potential of gender-based analysis to inform the development of more effective counterterrorism strategies that can be applied in the case of Indonesia and Malaysia.