THE ROLE OF INDONESIA DIASPORA IN THE PHILIPPINES IN SUPPORTING INDONESIAN GASTRODIPLOMACY

Abstract

Nowadays, there are many different types of diplomacy practices, as one example is gastrodiplomacy. Where through food, a country can become an international attraction. The state of Indonesia itself uses this practice of diplomacy. Gastrodiplomacy certainly cannot stand alone, where policies are needed that are of course led by the government. However, not only the government, but also the government can provide more access to all activities related to gastrodiplomacy to non-government actors, for example, the diaspora. Indonesia and the Philippines have good diplomatic relations. Through a long historical background, there is a lot of cooperation and there are also many Indonesia diaspora in the Philippines. This research will focus on gastrodiplomacy strategies carried out by non-state actors through gastronomic products, namely Indonesia restaurants. This research uses a mixed method and focuses on the theory of gastrodiplomacy according to Paul S. Rockower, who explained that gastrodiplomacy is a government medium in the strategy of spreading cultural diplomacy by using taste to increase awareness of the uniqueness of a nation's culture and promote a country's typical food. In this study, it was found that the Diaspora as a non-state actor, can carry out Indonesia's gastrodiplomacy in the Philippines. This can be seen from the number of Filipino citizens who visit typical Indonesia restaurants in the Philippines, and the brand awareness of Indonesia's gastronomic products in the Philippines.