Dr Ahmad Umar PhD (Queensland), MSc (Sheffield), S.IP (UGM)

Dr Ahmad Rizky M. Umar is a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellow (UKRI Guarantee) at the Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University. He completed his PhD in Political Science and International Studies at the University of Queensland, MSc in Politics with Research Methods at the University of Sheffield, and Bachelor of Political Science (S.IP) in International Relations at Universitas Gadjah Mada. Before joining Aberystwyth University, he taught at the University of Queensland and Griffith University (2022-2024).

Umar is an expert in Asian regionalism, Indonesia's foreign policy, and Indo-Pacific security. He has published articles in several journals, including International Affairs, Alternatives, International Journal, Development in Practice, Asian Politics and Policy, Global South Review, and Studia Islamika.  His current research explores transregionalism in world politics, focusing on the politics of trans-regional cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. He is also completing a book project on the history of the idea of Asia in world politics. Umar also occassionally write op-eds for media, including The Jakarta Post, The Interpreter (Lowy Institute), Indonesia at Melbourne, The Conversation, and 9DashLine. Umar is currently an Associate Editor of Australian Journal of International Affairs. 

Originally from Indonesia, Umar previously worked as a researcher at ASEAN Studies Center, Universitas Gadjah Mada, where he also became Executive Secretary (2016-2017). He has taught several courses, including International Ethics, Human Rights, Nonviolence, and International Relations Theory. 

Module Coordinator

• IPM4920 - Critical Studies in Asia-Pacific Security

Coordinator

• IPM4920 - Critical Studies in Asia-Pacific Security

Umar currently engages in three research areas.

‘TransRWP: Transregionalism in World Politics’, funded by UKRI Guarantee for Marie Sklodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship, explores the politics of transregional cooperation in contemporary world politics. Focusing on the Indo-Pacific region, this research analyses the global pattern of transregional cooperation since the end of the Cold War, with a specific focus on Indo-Pacific. 

‘Constructing Asia' is a book project derived from Umar's PhD thesis, completed at the University of Queensland (2018-2022). The book project traces the history of the idea of Asia in world politics and how various ideas of Asia are mobilised to challenge or establish a particular global order. This book project is currently under advanced contract. 

In addition, Umar also actively comments and provides analysis on Indonesia's foreign policy and Indonesia's position in the changing international order. Umar's comments have been cited by (among others) South China Morning Post, Arab News, The Jakarta Post, Al-Qahera News TV, ABC Radio, The Straits Times, BBC Indonesia, and Nikkei Asia. 

• Wednesday 14.00-16.00
• Thursday 14.00-16.00