Motivation letter (IR Unicatt Italy) Boy Anugerah

Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (UCSC) Italy Admission Office Dear Elisa Creperio, With this letter I would hereby like to apply for the Master in International Relations A.Y. 2017-2018 implemented by Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (UCSC) Italy, starting in January 2018. I am highly motivated young man and I perceive that this degree course will be beneficial for my future and my life. I am confident that my strong willingness and academic background make me qualified candidate for this competitive program.

I have completed my studies in International Relations (Bachelor Degree in Padjadjaran University Indonesia with GPA. 3.55 of 4.00, graduated in 2009) and the National Resilience Study (Master Degree in Indonesia University with GPA. 3.65 of 4.00, graduated in 2014). After completing bachelor degree in 2009, I worked at the biggest corporate in Indonesia, Astra International Tbk as Business Analyst. In 2014, I resigned from that company and I joined with the National Resilience Institute of the Republic of Indonesia, a governmental office that concerns on strategic research in the field of Political, Security, Defense, and also Social and Cultural Issues. In this institution, I work as Analyst for International Cooperation.

Besides working as governmental officer, I am also involving in several social organizations such as Alumni Committee of Indonesia National Student Movement and Indonesia Youth Democratic Forum. My activity in those organizations is dissemination of information about the importance of education and political awareness in young generation to make strong society and to support the government. I regularly make writings and those are published in national mass media such as Media Indonesia Newspaper, Republika Newspaper, Rakyat Merdeka Newspaper, Lemhannas RI Magazine, and many others. My purpose in making writing is just to share what I think, and I wish it is useful to empower and expand people horizon and mind.

I have a dream that I can give my contribution to the world, bigger than what I could do now and I realize that I need something bigger and wider. Accordingly, I plan to continue my study abroad. I finally choose Italy as my destination. I have some reasons why I choose this country. First, I have taken Italian Language Course in my country since 2006 until 2008. I passed the intermediate test very well. I was also impressed by the performance and good attitude of my humble teacher, Signor Maurizio Spina. Although I can’t speak Italian Language now because I never practice anymore, I am sure that if I take study in Italy, I will struggle to master this language again by practicing it every day with my Italian friends.

Second, Italy is one of the key countries in Europe. Different with other countries in Europe, Italy is very famous because of history, art, and cultural factors. Talking about those factors in Europe, surely we must refer to Italy. Italy is also famous because of soccer league. Soccer is not only sport, but also the part of Italian life.

This is what makes Italy looks different with other countries in Europe.

Third, I think Italy has similarity with my country. Both countries have the strength in cultural and art richness. I would like to promote my cultures in Italy. Indonesia is just famous in the world because of the beauty of Bali as tourism destination. I promise to change people opinion. I want people to know that there are so many interesting places and things in Indonesia, not only Bali. Indonesia has many languages, tribes, dances, music instruments, local foods, etc.

I have also personal goal and objective to choose Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (UCSC) Italy, especially Master in International Relations. This university is one of the best universities in Italy and it avails possibility for people from overseas country to study. I am sure that this possibility can be a good sphere for many people to interact each other. Honestly, I am from developing countries, I am not young anymore, I will be minority in Italy because I am Muslim, but I have a big dream to work at one of International Organization in Europe. I think by studying in Europe, it can be a good step to realize my dream. Working at the place where takes place outside of my country, doesn’t mean I have no nationalism. I can share the view of Indonesian to many people. I am also able to make wide networking that will be beneficial for my country.

I would like to explain why international organization becomes more important now, even in the next decade. The world is changing and the globalization is the biggest part of it. The international actors are not only the states, but also corporations and international organizations. If the state work at the formal level and high context issues such as political, security and defense, the international organizations work at the non-formal level and low context issues such as social and culture. They are so different. By working at international organization, especially in the field of social and cultural aspect, we conduct something what I called “low risk and high impact�. We can avoid tension, conflict, even wars, but we can make cooperation, mutual understanding, even peace.

It is very hard thing to define what international relations means because there are so many changes in the global world today. The change include the increasing a number of international actors, not only state actors, but also sub-state actors and non-state actors. But the biggest change in the world is the impact of globalization which is suffered by many countries throughout the world where there is no boundaries anymore. The concept of state is becoming a big mark and question.

However, the most important thing that I could say if I have to define what the international relations means is every international actors should cooperate each

other to make peace, stability, prosperity, even a better world. There is no need to make tension, conflict, and war.

In my opinion, there are several topics of the current international agenda. They become global issues because related to the national interests of many countries.

Some of them are: 1. South China Sea Conflict. This conflict refers to the China's claim towards "nine dash line". This claim caused conflict among China and other claimant states such as Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei Darussalam, and Taiwan. This conflict was getting wider and wider because of the involving of USA which have interest in the region claimed by China.

2. Terrorism and Radicalism. These topics became more important issues after the 911 tragedy in USA and became more complicated when many people thought that it is about religion, especially Islam. If we would like to think frankly, the root causes of these matters are poverty, disparity, and global unfairness.

3. North Korea Issue. The nuclear weapon possessed by North Korea put this country as the global enemy, not only for their neighbor in East Asia such as Japan and South Korea, but also some of European Countries and USA. The more dialogues which were initiated by big countries (six party talks) became useless because there is no good will from Kim Jong Un as North Korea leader.

4. Middle East Conflict. This conflict is classical conflict because of so many factors such as dissenting opinion and understanding about religion values, the way to choose governmental system, even the interest of outside parties who conquer the natural resources in this region. (as we know this region has a very abundant oil and gas resources).

5. Last but not least, the other issue is the possibility of World War III to happen.

This is not prediction. Some indicators show that this is probable to happen. The raise of China and Russia put them as national threat for USA. The involving of China and Russia in some battle fields show that they would like the world to know that they are big countries which have a big power. If USA and their partner couldn't be wise in responding this matter, the world could become the world war III. This is the real threat for global peace.

Thank you very much reading my motivation letter and I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Warmest Regards, Boy Anugerah