ABSTRACT
The issue of Papuan separatism has tremendous geopolitical implications. This is because it involves not just Indonesia, but other key stakeholders such as the United States, Australia, Papua New Guinea, China, and even the United Nations. In attempting to understand the intricacies of the Papuan problem, it is pertinent to study ethno-secessionism in Papua as a complex issue of security where the notion of ethnos becomes attached to demos and, where ethnos/demos becomes securitized. The problem of ethno-secessionism in Papua is taking place in a post-Cold war geopolitical context where concepts like self-determination have been reincarnated. The post-Cold War liberal euphoria over concepts like self-determination and secessionism has limited the fuller understanding of complex conflicts. Against the backdrop of the key players, what is equally discernible is the rising insecurity in Papua brought about by a plethora of factors and conditions. The insecuritization of Papua can be explained by analyzing the political, military-strategic, economic, and social-cultural variables.
