Journal Governance Society

The authors in this issue come from Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, India, and Australia, reflecting the journal’s growing international reach and the widening relevance of public administration scholarship across the Asia–Pacific region. The article “Revisiting Governance Theory: A Comprehensive Framework for 21st-Century Public Administration” by Tomi Apra Santosa, Anwar Manahor, and Siti Fatimah Bin Salamah offers a renewed examination of governance theory, proposing an integrative framework that bridges classical administrative principles with contemporary demands shaped by digitalization, networked governance, and global interdependence. In “Nikah Gantung in Legal and Social Discourse: The Contestation of Legality between State, Religion, and Custom,” Zukhrufil Shadri, Rintia, and Md Shahidur Rahman Shakil analyze the complex interplay between statutory law, religious norms, and customary practices, illustrating how competing legal authorities shape social debates surrounding marital legitimacy. Meanwhile, Mansurni Abadi and Putu Ayu Suniadewi, in “Examining Patriotism Between Multiculturalism and Ethnoculturalism,” explore conceptual tensions in defining patriotism within diverse societies, offering insights into how identity, nationalism, and cultural pluralism intersect in contemporary civic life. The article “Effectiveness of Stakeholder Collaboration in Jakarta FIR Governance for Airspace Security” by Arie Prihandoko Dalirianto, Hidayat Hidayat, and Encep Sopandi evaluates multi-stakeholder coordination in Indonesia’s airspace governance, highlighting the strategic importance of interagency collaboration for national security and regional stability. Finally, Evio Tanti Nanita, through “Digital Storytelling for Cultural Resilience: Revitalizing the Can Macanan Kadduk Performance in Arjasa Tourism Village,” demonstrates how digital media can serve as a tool for cultural preservation and community empowerment, showcasing the revitalization of a traditional performance art through participatory digital storytelling. Collectively, this issue underscores the dynamic intersection of governance, culture, law, security, and digital transformation, offering rich regional perspectives that contribute to contemporary debates in public administration and social policy.