Prof. Dr. Poppy Sulistyaning Winanti was officially inaugurated as Professor of International Relations on Thursday, 23 February 2023, at the Senate Hall, Universitas Gadjah Mada. At the inauguration ceremony, Prof. Poppy delivered a speech entitled “Reconsidering Embedded Liberalism for WTO Reform: Plurilateralism in International Trade Multilateralism” (available in Indonesian only).
In her speech, Prof. Poppy conveyed that a powerful international trade regime is necessary in the contemporary world situation. “The World Trade Organization (WTO) is experiencing stagnation in managing international trade with multilateral principles. This means that currently there is a conflict between the efforts of member countries to achieve their respective national goals and international commitments to adhere to the principles of free trade,” said Prof. Poppy.
Prof. Poppy offers the idea of reforming the WTO by encouraging the re-implementation of the embedded liberalism principle. This principle allows member countries to commit to international trade but still provides flexibility to respond to the latest global challenges. Furthermore, the WTO needs to consider a plurilateral mechanism in a multilateral system that allows each member country to choose and sort out new agreements voluntarily, according to the interests and level of economic progress of each member. “To push for these reforms, efforts, and strategic steps are needed that can be started from building coalitions not only among fellow developing countries in the South or the Global South but also among countries that have views beyond the separation of the Global South and the Global North,” she said.
At the end of her speech, Prof. Poppy said that reaching the position of Professor was a long process. It was not only an academic achievement but also a reflection of the struggle that could not have been realized without the help and sacrifice of many parties. Prof. Poppy expressed her appreciation to those who played a role and contributed to her life journey and academic career.
The inauguration ceremony was also broadcast virtually and was attended by UGM Professors, Minister of State Secretary Prof. Dr. Pratikno, who is also the Chairman of the UGM Board of Trustees (MWA), and Prof. Poppy’s colleagues from within and outside the country. Prof. Poppy is the first female Professor in International Relations at UGM. She is also the third female Professor at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences UGM. Her inauguration also brought fresh air to the Department of International Relations UGM after 18 years of not having a new professor.
Writer: Melisa Rachmania
Photo sources: Humas UGM, Kencana Photo
