INDONESIAN CULTURAL DIPLOMACY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: BATIK AS NATIONAL BRANDING UNDER PRESIDENT SUSILO BAMBANG YUDHOYONO ADMINISTRATION (2009-2014)

Abstract

This thesis aims to provide an understanding for Indonesian people about the importance of cultural diplomacy and national branding, especially Indonesia’s national branding. Through Indonesian cultural diplomacy and national branding is expected people from other countries especially the United States can learn the cultural heritage of Indonesia, batik becomes more loved by other countries and other countries can always remember Indonesia. Besides that, batik can be preserved especially by Indonesian people because batik is a very valuable cultural heritage. The use of cultural diplomacy today is very important because cultural diplomacy can be easily accepted by society. For this reason this study discusses batik during President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s administration because it is considered at this time the diplomacy of Indonesian culture and batik heavily promoted in United States of America. Many efforts undertaken by the Indonesian government in promoting batik and preserving batik in United States is the result that Indonesian cultural diplomacy has been successfully implemented in United States and expected to be continue.