Community Policing as Strategic Tools to Combat Counterinsurgency in Indonesia

Robby Maulidiyawan; Ahmad G. Dohamid; M. Afifuddin

doi:10.63922/ijevss.v5i02.3285

Robby Maulidiyawan Universitas Pertahanan Republik Indonesia
Ahmad G. Dohamid Universitas Pertahanan Republik Indonesia
M. Afifuddin Universitas Pertahanan Republik Indonesia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.63922/ijevss.v5i02.3285

Keywords: community policing, counterinsurgency, Sishankamrata, winning hearts and minds, Indonesia

Abstract

This study examines the role of community policing as a non-kinetic counterinsurgency strategy within the Indonesian security framework. It addresses two research questions: (1) how community policing contributes to societal security and (2) how it supports counterinsurgency through participation, legitimacy, and early warning capabilities. Using a qualitative approach based on doctrinal analysis and literature review, the study integrates counterinsurgency theory, the Winning Hearts and Minds framework and Routine Activity Theory with Indonesia’s Sishankamrata doctrine. The findings reveal that community policing strengthens societal security by transforming communities into active participants in maintaining security through both institutional mechanisms and voluntary practices. It also enhances counterinsurgency efforts by fostering legitimacy, enabling cooperation, and improving early detection of threats. The study concludes that community policing functions as a legally grounded and operationally effective non-kinetic strategy that complements conventional approaches to security. However, its effectiveness is influenced by contextual factors such as trust, capacity, and local dynamics. This research contributes to the development of a society-centered model of counterinsurgency and highlights the importance of integrating community-based approaches into contemporary security strategies.

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