Alwi Akbar
Senior Analyst (Coordinator) of Middle East & North Africa Desk
Alwi Akbar is Senior Analyst (Coordinator) with the Middle East & North Africa Desk at World Order Lab, where he leads research on geopolitical security, energy dynamics, trade, and global supply chains across the region. He authors monthly op-eds and contributes to quarterly regional outlooks that support policy discussions with regional institutions and think tanks. He also supervises research development within the MENA Desk, reviewing analytical outputs and guiding analysts in producing rigorous, policy-relevant work. Through institutional engagements, he represents World Order Lab in discussions with government officials, researchers, and policy stakeholders.
Alwi holds Master of Science in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies from the Graduate School of Strategic and Global Studies, Universitas Indonesia, and Bachelor of Social Science from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang.
Alwi brings more than four years of experience in foreign policy analysis, international development, and political research. His work is grounded in evidence-based analysis and aims to translate complex political developments into practical insights for decision-makers and the wider public. Previously, he served as a Research and Analysis Intern at the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia, where he produced weekly geopolitical monitoring reports on Asia-Pacific and Middle Eastern developments. He also supported stakeholder engagement and briefing preparation for the Indonesia Net-Zero Summit, contributing to conversations on climate finance, sustainability regulation, and the energy transition. His professional experience also includes an internship at Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, within the Foreign Policy Strategic Agency for Asia-Pacific and Africa. There, he developed strategic briefs on geopolitical risks, diplomatic trade-offs, conflict-response options, and regional developments, particularly related to the Middle East and North Africa.
Alwi's research interests focus in the MENA regional security, energy, trade, and strategic development. His analyses have appeared in outlets including International Policy Digest, Foreign Policy Talks, The Southeast Asia Desk, and Intermestic: Journal of International Studies, with topics spanning Gulf politics, regional security, energy diplomacy, and foreign policy.
Language: Indonesian (Native), English (C1), Arabic (A2).
Education:
Master of Science, Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies
Graduate School of Strategic and Global Studies, Universitas Indonesia (2023 - 2025)Bachelor of Social Science, International Relations
Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang (2017 - 2022)
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Research Interests
Alwi Akbar
Senior Analyst (Coordinator),
Middle East & North Africa Desk
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Regional Focus
Conflict Resolution
Diplomacy
Energy Security
Foreign Policy Analysis
Geopolitics of MENA Region
Gulf Geopolitics
MENA-China Relations
MENA Historical Region
Middle East Security
Political History
Sustainable Development
Indonesia
Southeast Asia
Middle East
North Africa
Transatlantic
Asia-Pacific
Selected Articles & Publications
Why the UAE Broke Up with OPEC
International Policy Digest | June 3, 2026 | Co-Authored with Safna Putri PurbaWill the United States Alter Saudi Vision 2030?
Foreign Policy Talks | November 30, 2025Indonesians’ Perceptions of the Middle East Remain Superficial
The Southeast Asia Desk | November 14, 2025The Gulf Future and Fracture Region Institution
Global South Forum | October 20, 2025What’s Next for the Gulf After the ASEAN and China Summit?
The Southeast Asia Desk | October 10, 2025Analysis of Security Projections in the Reconciliation of Relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia
Intermestic: Journal of International Studies | July 29, 2025 | Co-Authored with Yon Machmudi, Naufal Fikri, & Yusril Ihza Mahendra
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World Order Lab is a youth-driven think-tank dedicated to advancing rigorous analysis and producing high-impact insights on Southeast Asia's most pressing security and governance challenges. We are strictly nonpartisan and non-profit initiative.