Muhammad Nidhal Ezzat Luthfi
Senior Analyst, Middle East & North Africa Desk
Muhammad Nidhal Ezzat Luthfi is Senior Analyst with the Middle East & North Africa Desk at World Order Lab. He has extensive experience in policy analysis, multi-stakeholder engagement, and programme management across think tanks and diplomatic missions. His current role involves advancing UK climate diplomacy in Indonesia by overseeing high-impact UK PACT (Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions) carbon pricing initiatives and forging strategic government partnerships for low-carbon development.
Prior to joining the UK PACT Indonesia team, Nidhal served as a Foreign Policy Officer for the British Embassy Jakarta's Foreign Security and Policy Desk; Research and Policy Analyst at the Center for Indonesian Policy Studies (CIPS); and Assistant to the Political and Economic Section at the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Jakarta. His main portfolio covers the intersection of foreign policy, digital transformation, and climate governance, with a broader interest in multilateralism, development policy, energy security, emerging tech governance, and equitable North-South partnerships. He is also passionate about ethical, inclusive, and responsible technology policy.
Nidhal holds Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Jayabaya University, with a focus in Geopolitical and Postcolonial Studies. His undergraduate thesis, "Islamic Worldview: Revitalising Islamic Perspectives in Contemporary International Relations (IR) Studies," critiques modern IR as a colonized, positivistic, and Western-dominated discipline and advocates for the inclusion of a non-Western paradigms — specifically an Islamic worldview — to decolonize and diversify the discipline.
Driven by a commitment to global development and diplomacy, he seeks opportunities within international organisations and the development sector.
Language: Indonesian (Native), English (C1), Arabic (B2), French (A1).
Education:
Bachelor's Degree, International Relations
Faculty of Social and Political Science, Universitas Jayabaya (2015 - 2019)Non-Degree, Digital Democracy in Southeast Asia Summer School
Faculty of Social and Political Science, Universitas Diponegoro (September 2024)
—————————————
Research Interests
Muhammad Nidhal Ezzat Luthfi
Senior Analyst,
Middle East & North Africa Desk
—————————————
Regional Focus
ASEAN-GCC Relations
BRICS+
D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation
Digital Geopolitics
Energy Security
Governance of Emerging Technologies
Humanitarian Law
Infrastructure and Development Policy
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
Postcolonial Literature and Narrative
Indonesia
Southeast Asia
West Asia
Middle East
North Africa
Indo-Pacific
Asia-Pacific
Global South
Selected Articles & Publications
Shadows of Censorship: Indonesia’s Content Moderation Policy Development
Center for Indonesian Policy Studies | July 2025 | Co-Authored with Rasya Athalla Aaron & Aldrich AlfarisiSentralisasi Kebijakan Yang Tidak Transparan Kacaukan Pembangunan BTS Nasional (in Indonesian)
The Conversation | April 28, 2025Security Council Reform: The Inclusion of Global South and the Future of Peace
Foraus | February 2025 | Co-Authored with Parousia Tlhompho ShikwambaneRevisiting Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labeling Policies in Indonesia
Center for Indonesian Policy Studies | January 2025 | Co-Authored with Ibnu BudimanEntrepreneurship and Open Market: Lessons in Ecosystems from Gummersbach
Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom | November 29, 2024Navigating Innovation: Indonesia’s Regulatory Sandbox Journey
Tech for Good Institute | September 9, 2024 | Co-Authored with Anton RizkiExploring Online Reviews in Indonesia: Impacts on UGC Platforms and Consumers
Center for Indonesian Policy Studies | June 1, 2024 | Co-Authored with Sharfina Indrayadi, Louis Budiman, & Aang SutrisnaRegulatory Sandbox Yang Adaptif & Inovatif (in Indonesian)
Kontan | May 8, 2024Understanding the Regulatory Environment for ICT Infrastructure in Papua New Guinea: The Integrated Government Information System (IGIS) Case Study
Center for Indonesian Policy Studies | April 2024 | Co-Authored with Louis BudimanUnderstanding the Regulatory Environment for ICT Infrastructure in Papua New Guinea: The Coral Sea Cable System (CS2) Case Study
Center for Indonesian Policy Studies| April 2024
Understanding the Regulatory Environment for ICT Infrastructure in Papua New Guinea
Center for Indonesian Policy Studies | August 2023 | Co-Authored with Amira Husna Natanegara & Louis BudimanInternational Experiences with Innovative Credit Scoring Lessons for Indonesia
Center for Indonesian Policy Studies | August 2023 | Co-Authored with Trissia Wijaya
Draft Regulation Aims to Balance Media and Digital Platforms
The Jakarta Post | July 12, 2023From Export Ban to Export Acceleration: Why Cooking Oil Price Interventions Were Ineffective
Center for Indonesian Policy Studies | December 2022 | Co-Authored with Mukhammad Faisol Amir & Aditya AltaWacana Poskolonial: Islamic Worldview Dalam Studi Hubungan Internasionsl Kontemporer (in Indonesian)
Jurnal Alternatif: Jurnal Ilmu Hubungan Internasional | February 27, 2022
Event Participations
© 2026 World Order Lab. All Rights Reserved. | Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | Charter of Ethics & Integrity
World Order Lab is a youth-driven, nonpartisan, and non-profit think-tank dedicated to advancing rigorous analysis and producing high-impact insights on the world’s most pressing security and governance challenges, with a particular focus on Southeast Asia.