THE PARADOX OF PUBLICATION POLICY: THE INTERNATIONALIZATION OF THE INDONESIAN LANGUAGE VS. THE HEGEMONY OF SCOPUS

https://doi.org/10.23960/kata.v13i2.1985
Published: Sep 26, 2025

Abstract:

Indonesia’s current higher education policy is marked by a stark paradox between the government’s ambition to internationalize the Indonesian language and the hegemony of an academic evaluation system that strictly mandates publication in Scopus-indexed journals. This regulatory paradox triggers systemic problems such as the misalignment of faculty research objectives, the exodus of high-quality manuscripts abroad, and massive financial waste of state funds on foreign commercial publication costs. This study aims to thoroughly unravel the root of the paradox between global metrics-based publication policies and the national language diplomacy agenda, as well as to formulate emancipatory institutional strategies. This study employs a qualitative method using Critical Policy Analysis and Critical Discourse Analysis (Norman Fairclough’s model) to dissect primary data such as language laws, BKD regulations, and SINTA guidelines, along with related secondary data. The research findings confirm the existence of severe regulatory dissonance; where academics are required to promote the national language, yet the reward and punishment system forces them to reproduce the hegemony of a foreign lingua franca, which ultimately alienates science from the local community. As a concrete recommendation, this study proposes the implementation of an “academic glocalization” model, which urges the government to overhaul performance evaluations by providing structural affirmation such as granting the maximum credit point (kum) equivalence for publications in highly reputable Indonesian-language national journals.

Keywords:
1. Paradox
2. Publication
3. Glocalization
4. Scopus
Authors:
Pondra Muliawan
STIT Darul Ishlah Tulang Bawang
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How to Cite
Muliawan, P. (2025). THE PARADOX OF PUBLICATION POLICY: THE INTERNATIONALIZATION OF THE INDONESIAN LANGUAGE VS. THE HEGEMONY OF SCOPUS. Jurnal Kata: Bahasa, Sastra, Dan Pembelajarannya, 13(2), 563–572. https://doi.org/10.23960/kata.v13i2.1985
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Vol. 13 No. 2 (2025): Jurnal Kata : Bahasa, Sastra, dan Pembelajarannya
Articles
References

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    Mais, C. (2024). Publish (in English) or Perish: Greek Academia and the Imposition of English Language. Journal of Electronic Publishing , 27(1), 105–120. https://doi.org/10.3998/jep.5329

    Oktaviani, W., & Amra, M. (2024). Strategi Diplomasi Budaya Indonesia Melalui Program Bahasa Indonesia Bagi Penutur Asing (BIPA) Di Australia Tahun 2021-2023. Sriwijaya Journal of International Relations, 4(2), 127–152. https://doi.org/10.47753/sjir.v4i2.40

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    Susanto, G., Pickus, D., Espree-Conaway, D., Suparmi, Rusiandi, A., & Noviya, H. (2024). Indonesian language policy and perspectives on its implementation in promoting Bahasa Indonesia as an international language. Cogent Arts & Humanities, 11(1), 2364511. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2024.2364511

    Van Aswegen, J., Hyatt, D., & Goodley, D. (2019). A critical discourse problematization framework for (disability) policy analysis: “good cop/bad cop” strategy. Qualitative Research Journal, 19(2), 185–198. https://doi.org/10.1108/QRJ-12-2018-0004

    Van den Brink, J., & Andrason, A. (2024). Article-Processing Fees and Subsidies: The Colonial Entanglement of Knowledge Production in South Africa—The Case of Gender-Based Violence Research. Social and Health Sciences, 22(1 SE-Articles), 19 pages. https://doi.org/10.25159/2957-3645/14377

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  1. Almawi, J., Sayaf, A. M., & Fazel, H. (2025). Academic Skills Competence and Challenges in International Academic Publishing: Perspectives from Faculty Members in Non-English-Speaking Higher Education. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 24(8), 161–197. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.24.8.8
  2. Amutuhaire, T. (2023). Higher education and social responsibility: a proposal for internationalization of university—community engagements; perspectives from Uganda. SN Social Sciences, 3(9), 161. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-023-00751-2
  3. Arenas-Castro, H., Berdejo-Espinola, V., Chowdhury, S., Rodríguez-Contreras, A., James, A. R. M., Raja, N. B., Dunne, E. M., Bertolino, S., Emidio, N. B., Derez, C. M., Drobniak, S. M., Fulton, G. R., Henao-Diaz, L. F., Kaur, A., Kim, C. J. S., Lagisz, M., Medina, I., Mikula, P., Narayan, V. P., … Amano, T. (2024). Academic publishing requires linguistically inclusive policies. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 291(2018), 20232840. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2023.2840
  4. Bhuana, B. C., & Ardiansyah, B. G. (2025). Evaluasi Kebijakan Fasilitas Pajak untuk Mendorong Riset dan Inovasi di Indonesia. Scientax: Jurnal Kajian Ilmiah Perpajakan Indonesia, 6(2), 151–177. https://doi.org/10.52869/st.v6i2.892
  5. Christensen, M., Fahlevi, H., Indriani, M., & Syukur, M. (2024). Deciding to be ignored: Why accounting scholars use dubious quality research outlets in a neocolonial context. Critical Perspectives on Accounting, 99, 102740. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpa.2024.102740
  6. Cordell, R., & Medhi, K. (2024). Transnational Repression: International Cooperation in Silencing Dissent. International Studies Quarterly, 68(3), sqae108. https://doi.org/10.1093/isq/sqae108
  7. Debat, H., Okafor, I. A., Shitindo, M., Amaral, O. B., Izzati, N., Basu Mallick, C., Henry, A. O., Dine, R. D., & Santacruz-Perez, C. (2025). How the Global South is reshaping scholarly communication. ELife, 14, e108426. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.108426
  8. Elbanna, S., & Child, J. (2023). From ‘publish or perish’ to ‘publish for purpose.’ European Management Review, 20(4), 614–618. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/emre.12618
  9. Eneh, S. C., Onukansi, F. O., Obi, C. G., Anokwuru, C. C., Ikhuoria, O. V., Nwalieji, C. A., Nwuzoh, M. I., Ekwebene, O. C., Udokang, E. I., Chigozie, O. C., Dozie, U. W., & Ojo, T. O. (2025). Article processing charges and health research output in low-income countries: funding cuts, implications for health policy and system management. Frontiers in Health Services, 5. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/health-services/articles/10.3389/frhs.2025.1686682
  10. Fry, C. V, Lynham, J., & Tran, S. (2023). Ranking researchers: Evidence from Indonesia. Research Policy, 52(5), 104753. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2023.104753
  11. Getahun, Dawit Asrat, Hammad, Waheed, & Robinson-Pant, Anna. (2021). Academic writing for publication: Putting the ‘international’ into context. Research in Comparative and International Education, 16(2), 160–180. https://doi.org/10.1177/17454999211009346
  12. Ghazinoory, S., Fatemi, M., & Adab, A. (2022). Iranian steel value chain: advantageous but unsustainable. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy, 24(7), 2099–2115. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-022-02300-6
  13. Ghazinoory, S., & Vaziri, J. (2021). Sociotechnical Transitions in Developing World. Obrana a Strategie (Defence and Strategy), 20(2), 83–104. https://doi.org/10.3849/1802-7199.20.2020.02.079-100
  14. Hasibuan, A., Nirmawan, & Zulfitri. (2025). Strengthening and Management of The Campus-Based Indonesian Language Institution for Foreign Speakers (BIPA) at The PBSI Study Program of UMN Al Washliyah With The Language Center of North Sumatra Province. In West Science Interdisciplinary Studies (Vol. 3, Issue 7, pp. 1267–1274). https://doi.org/10.58812/wsis.v3i07.2125
  15. Irawan, D. E., Abraham, J., Tennant, J. P., & Pourret, O. (8 C.E.). The need for a new set of measures to assess the impact of research in earth sciences in Indonesia. European Science Editing, 47, e59032. https://doi.org/10.3897/ese.2021.e59032
  16. Islam, M. A. (2025). Charting Excellence: Unveiling the Influence of Scientific Publications on Global University Rankings. Science & Technology Libraries, 44(2), 103–119. https://doi.org/10.1080/0194262X.2024.2384890
  17. Mais, C. (2024). Publish (in English) or Perish: Greek Academia and the Imposition of English Language. Journal of Electronic Publishing , 27(1), 105–120. https://doi.org/10.3998/jep.5329
  18. Oktaviani, W., & Amra, M. (2024). Strategi Diplomasi Budaya Indonesia Melalui Program Bahasa Indonesia Bagi Penutur Asing (BIPA) Di Australia Tahun 2021-2023. Sriwijaya Journal of International Relations, 4(2), 127–152. https://doi.org/10.47753/sjir.v4i2.40
  19. Steingard, D., & Rodenburg, K. (2023). Societal Impacts of Higher Education Research: From ‘Publish or Perish’ to ‘Publish and Prosper’ in Business School Scholarship. In Sustainability (Vol. 15, Issue 13, p. 10718). https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310718
  20. Sugiharto, S. (2021). De-westernizing hegemonic knowledge in global academic publishing: toward a politics of locality. Journal of Multicultural Discourses, 16(4), 321–333. https://doi.org/10.1080/17447143.2021.2017442
  21. Susanto, G., Pickus, D., Espree-Conaway, D., Suparmi, Rusiandi, A., & Noviya, H. (2024). Indonesian language policy and perspectives on its implementation in promoting Bahasa Indonesia as an international language. Cogent Arts & Humanities, 11(1), 2364511. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2024.2364511
  22. Van Aswegen, J., Hyatt, D., & Goodley, D. (2019). A critical discourse problematization framework for (disability) policy analysis: “good cop/bad cop” strategy. Qualitative Research Journal, 19(2), 185–198. https://doi.org/10.1108/QRJ-12-2018-0004
  23. Van den Brink, J., & Andrason, A. (2024). Article-Processing Fees and Subsidies: The Colonial Entanglement of Knowledge Production in South Africa—The Case of Gender-Based Violence Research. Social and Health Sciences, 22(1 SE-Articles), 19 pages. https://doi.org/10.25159/2957-3645/14377
  24. Wang, R.-J., Hsueh, C.-M., Chiang, W.-W., Shih, Y.-H., Lin, J. C., & Pang, P. (2026). University Social Responsibility (USR) programs and the transformation of Taiwan’s higher education: pathways to sustainability and local engagement. Frontiers in Education, 11. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/education/articles/10.3389/feduc.2026.1756071