NCSR and UWP Faculty of Law Hold Online Book Review of Sovereignty Theory
The Nusantara Center for Social Research (NCSR), in collaboration with the Faculty of Law at Wijaya Putra University (FH UWP), held a virtual book review on Thursday, June 18, 2026. The event discussed the book "Theory of Sovereignty: History, Development, and Critical Studies."
Sultoni Fikri, S.IP., S.H., M.H., one of the authors, served as the keynote speaker, while Fikri Hadi, S.H., M.H., a lecturer in Constitutional Law at FH UWP, acted as a commentator. The event was moderated by Intan Predita Lystiadi, a student at FH UWP, and moderated by Fareh Prameswari, S.H., the best graduate of the Law Study Program at FH UNTAG Surabaya in 2026 and a researcher at NCSR.
The discussion opened with a presentation by Fikri Hadi, who reviewed the book's substance from the perspective of a Constitutional Law academic. He expressed his appreciation for the author's ability to present material on sovereignty that is not only scientific but also up-to-date and contextualized to current developments.
"In my opinion, this book presents a new genre in the treasury of Indonesian constitutional literature, as it successfully combines historical, philosophical, and postcolonial critical approaches," said Fikri Hadi.
Furthermore, he considered the book bold, innovative, and a significant contribution, particularly in the section that examines the Critical Study of Sovereignty Theory from a postcolonial perspective. Furthermore, he considered the book visionary because it not only examines sovereignty in the past and present but also explores the future by addressing contemporary issues such as cyber sovereignty, digital currency, and state surveillance.
"The book concludes with a very compelling statement: A future where sovereignty is no longer about who rules, but about how we live together in a pluralistic and vulnerable world. This is the future we must fight for together: a post-sovereign society that is humane, deliberative, and just," he explained.
Next, it was Sultoni Fikri's turn to share his thoughts as the author. He co-wrote this book with Rizky Bangun Wibisono, S.IP., M.Sc., an academic at the University of Glasgow, who is also a researcher at the National Social and Political Sciences Research Institute (NCSR) and a lecturer at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) at the State Islamic University of Indonesia (UINSA). Sultoni explained that one of the reasons for writing this book was the lack of literature that comprehensively examines the theory of sovereignty.
"Most literature only presents forms of sovereignty theory, such as theocracy, monarchy, state sovereignty, popular sovereignty, and the rule of law, which are commonly taught in college. However, very few examine the history of the birth and debates surrounding the theory of sovereignty itself," he explained.
This motivated the two authors to comprehensively summarize various aspects of sovereignty theory, from its historical background, debates, alternative perspectives, to the dynamics that may emerge in the future with the rapid development of technology and digitalization.
"I hope this book can serve as a reference for academics and scholars from various disciplines when discussing the theme of sovereignty," he concluded.
This book review demonstrates UWP's commitment as a sociopreneurial campus, not only producing outstanding graduates but also fostering the development of science-based social solutions. In line with UWP's vision to become a Leading University in Research-Based Sociopreneurship Development by 2030, academic activities like this are expected to continue to grow and positively impact the wider community. UWP believes that through collaboration, research, and community service, the campus can become a driving force for sustainable social change.
